FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 15, 2026

Suspicious Mail Received and Opened by State Election Commissioner’s Office. Employees are Safe, Protocols Followed and Investigation in Progress.

DOVER, DE – Today, October 15, 2026, at approximately 2:00 p.m., an employee in the State Election Commissioner’s Office of the Delaware Department of Elections (DOE) received and opened an envelope, which was discovered to contain a white powdery substance. Staff members followed security and USPS postal instructions on handling suspicious mail. The envelope was isolated, staff members were decontaminated and evacuated, and the HVAC system was shut down. Additionally, state and federal law enforcement and other partners arrived at the office to conduct an investigation into the incident and test the substance.

All election offices statewide have sent their non-essential state employees home in an abundance of caution.

Additional information will be provided to the public as soon as it is available.

DOE Information
For more information, visit the Department of Elections website  and connect with the Department on Facebook, , X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.

MEDIA CONTACT
Delaware Department of Elections
Cathleen Hartsky-Carter
Community Relations Officer
(302) 484-0392
Cathleen.Carter@delaware.gov

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