Recent days have seen a concerning trend of threatening packages being sent to election offices across the country, with North Carolina's state election board being among the recipients. The executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, Karen Brinson Bell, revealed that an envelope containing a hazardous material possibility was intercepted before reaching their office. The FBI has been called in to investigate the matter.
Bell emphasized that while they initially believed they were not impacted, the discovery of the suspicious envelope has prompted them to take additional precautions. These precautions include wearing gloves during mail processing and setting up insulated areas in case of contamination. These measures have added to the workload of the election workforce, especially as the state gears up to send out mail ballots and process voter registration packets.
Despite the challenges posed by these security threats, Bell stressed that their primary goal is to ensure that people are able to vote safely and securely. The added workload and anxiety resulting from the need for heightened security measures have not deterred the election officials from their commitment to facilitating the voting process.