Letters arrive weeks before Nov. 3 midterm elections

Suspicious white powder was mailed to state election offices in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Ohio this week, prompting evacuations and a multi-agency investigation weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry said in a statement that her office in Baton Rouge was closed Tuesday after an Elections Division employee opened a package at around 12:20 p.m. CDT and found white powder inside. Landry stated Tuesday that her office did not know what the substance was and that law enforcement was responding. The Louisiana office was closed for the remainder of Tuesday.

The Oklahoma State Election Board said in a statement it received an envelope containing a “suspicious white powder” on Tuesday morning. The board notified the Oklahoma Highway Patrol “immediately,” according to its statement. “Thankfully, no one from the State Election Board staff was harmed as a result of this incident,” State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said. “We want to assure Oklahoma voters that today’s incident does not impact our ability to conduct elections. Election officials remain committed to ensuring safe and secure elections.”

In Ohio, U.S. Postal Service investigators intercepted a letter containing “a powdery white substance” intended for Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office on Wednesday, according to a statement from LaRose. LaRose said investigators were “dealing with similar mailings sent to election officials in multiple states” and that the FBI was handling the matter. “We have informed our county boards of elections to be vigilant in the days ahead,” he said.

The FBI told NBC News in a statement that it was working with its partners to identify those behind the letters, declining to confirm where letters had been received.

The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors said in a joint statement Wednesday that they are “deeply concerned by these incidents.” “As we have each stated in the past, threats against election officials and workers have no place in our democracy. Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties,” the statement said.

The incidents come weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.