Politics
Tennessee election chief says suspicious mailing was stopped before arrival
A package addressed to Tennessee’s elections coordinator was intercepted in transit and never opened, state election chief Mark Goins said. The incident comes as election offices in several states report suspicious mail ahead of November’s midterm elections.
A suspicious package addressed to Tennessee’s elections coordinator was intercepted before reaching the office and was not opened, state Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins said Thursday, Oct. 15.
Goins disclosed the incident during an interview about the upcoming midterm elections. “We did get it. It was intercepted,” he said, adding that the package was stopped while in transit.
The incident comes amid reports of suspicious mail sent to election officials in other states. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said postal investigators blocked delivery of a letter containing a powdery white substance to his office Wednesday. Oklahoma’s elections board office was evacuated Tuesday after receiving an envelope with what officials described as suspicious white powder. Louisiana’s secretary of state also said her Baton Rouge office was evacuated Tuesday after an employee opened a package containing white powder.
Goins said Tennessee’s office received suspicious mail in 2024 as well. He said he opened that package, which contained white powder, and tests found no hazardous material.
The latest package was not opened in Tennessee, and Goins did not provide further details about its contents or who sent it. The reports arrive as states prepare for November’s elections, when public confidence in secure election administration remains central to the democratic process.