Suspicious powder evacuates Hamilton County elections office

A suspicious white powder found in the mail forced an evacuation of the Hamilton County Board of Elections building in Norwood on Saturday, Oct. 24. Early voting at the same complex was never interrupted.

Election workers discovered the substance around 10:50 a.m. at the administrative office at 4700 Smith Road, according to WLWT. As of its Oct. 23 alert, the FBI said no hazardous material had been identified in the nationwide mailings, according to NTD. No one was injured, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

The evacuation affected only the administrative side of the building, not the Early Voting Center, spokesperson Stacey Moher told Fox 19. Voters continued casting ballots during regular hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Board of Elections Director Sherry Poland told WLWT that staff were opening the morning mail when a white powdery substance spilled from an envelope onto a table. "Our evacuation procedures were put into place and we immediately notified law enforcement," Poland said. "First responders arrived quickly."

Poland and Deputy Director Raquel Burgos said in a joint statement that the safety of employees and the public was their highest priority.

The discovery came amid reports of similar suspicious mailings nationwide. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued an alert on Friday, Oct. 23, warning that letters containing suspicious powder had been mailed to election offices, secretaries of state and media organizations across the country, NTD reported. The FBI said no hazardous material had been identified in any of the letters. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose confirmed his office was an intended recipient, but federal investigators intercepted the letter, according to NTD.

Election offices in at least 32 states, including Ohio, received suspicious letters in recent weeks, the Enquirer reported, citing Wired.

Hamilton County voters who plan to vote early in person can do so at the Early Voting Center on Smith Road.

Norwood police are continuing to investigate. The substance has not been publicly identified.