Authorities are on the hunt for the individuals responsible for sending suspicious letters, some containing fentanyl, to elections offices in multiple states, causing delays in ballot counting. The affected states include Georgia, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirmed that four of the letters contained fentanyl. Law enforcement agencies are working diligently to intercept any additional letters before they reach their destinations. The Pierce County auditor's office in Washington released images of the letter it received, which had been postmarked in Portland, Oregon. The letter included the message, "End elections now." Seattle's King County Elections Director Julie Wise reported that her office received a similar letter. Georgia authorities suspect that Fulton County, which includes Atlanta and is the largest voting jurisdiction in the state, was a likely target.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger referred to the incidents as domestic terrorism and called for condemnation from elected officials. Raffensperger stated that Georgia had alerted all 159 counties about the possible threat, but they believe only Fulton County is being targeted. As a precaution, officials are sending the overdose-reversal drug naloxone to the office in case the final envelope, still in transit, contains fentanyl. In California, two suspicious envelopes heading for election facilities in Los Angeles and Sacramento were intercepted by the United States Postal Service.

Authorities in Lane County, Oregon, investigated a suspicious mail piece that arrived at the local election office. Fortunately, no one experienced any negative health effects. However, the incident led to the temporary closure of the office and a delay in ballot pickup. Officials did not provide further details but emphasized that attempts to terrorize election staff are unacceptable.

On Wednesday, Washington state experienced similar incidents, resulting in the evacuation of four county election offices. The substances found in King and Spokane counties tested positive for fentanyl, while another envelope contained baking soda. Pierce County Auditor Linda Farmer shared images of the envelope and letter her office received, which warned about the vulnerability of "ballot drops" and proclaimed, "End elections now." The letter featured symbols associated with antifascism, the LGBTQ+ pride movement, and a pentagram, making the sender's political leanings unclear.

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs labeled the incidents acts of terrorism, emphasizing the need to protect elections. The White House spokesperson, Olivia Dalton, confirmed that the Biden administration is aware of the investigation and expressed gratitude towards election and poll workers for ensuring the security of democratic processes.

Fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic painkiller, has caused an overdose crisis in the United States. The opioid has been responsible for more drug-related deaths than ever before. Brief contact with fentanyl does not cause an overdose, and accidental exposure carries a low risk of fatal overdose.

In addition to the fentanyl-laced envelopes, Georgia's top election official, Brad Raffensperger, highlighted the personal impact of the drug. Raffensperger shared that he and his wife lost their son to a fentanyl overdose, emphasizing the lethal nature of the substance. Five letters were sent in total, with four intercepted in Washington state and one en route to Fulton County in Georgia. Authorities are conducting investigations into these incidents, which occurred as ballot counting was underway for the November general election. Fulton County has previously been targeted by unfounded claims of widespread ballot fraud by former President Donald Trump, who now faces charges for allegedly conspiring to overturn Georgia's vote results in the same county.