OKLAHOMA CITY – The offices of the Oklahoma State Election Board were evacuated Tuesday after receiving an envelope containing a white powder, just weeks before one of the highest-profile and most contentious Midterm elections in modern memory.
A notice was sent to press late Tuesday afternoon explaining the situation and informing of the evacuation of the Election Board office inside the Oklahoma State Capitol in OKC.
According to that press release, an envelope containing “suspicious white powder” was received at the office Tuesday morning.
As soon as staff became aware of the powder, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was alerted “immediately” and the office was fully evacuated.
A statement included from State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax indicated that OKC Fire and the National Guard had also responded, but timelines of emergency response and what actions were taken have not yet been detailed.
“I am very appreciative of the quick action of state troopers, the Oklahoma City Fire Department, and the Oklahoma National Guard, and their professional response to the situation,” said Ziriax. “Thankfully, no one from the State Election Board staff was harmed as a result of this incident.”
No confirmation has yet been given regarding what the powder was or what kind of danger – if any – it posed to Election Board staff.
This development comes just weeks before November 3rd’s closely watched Midterm elections, and just days after a report by The Guardian alleging that Trump administration officials seem to have abandoned a federal task force focused on investigating threats to election staff nationwide.
President Trump has repeatedly made unfounded claims casting suspicion onto mail-in voting and local election staff across the country, including in a primetime television address in July in which he made claims of widespread election interference and election security breaches.
Ziriax responded to those claims at the time, reassuring Oklahoman voters that the state’s election procedures and voting systems remain “robust” and secure.
He reiterated that sentiment following the evacuation of the Election Board office on Tuesday.
“We want to assure Oklahoma voters that today’s incident does not impact our ability to conduct elections,” the statement from Ziriax reads. “Election officials remain committed to ensuring safe and secure elections.”
State law enforcement has confirmed that a full investigation is now underway.
This is a developing story. Free Press will provide more information as it becomes available.
Brett Fieldcamp is the owner and Editor in Chief of Oklahoma City Free Press. He has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly two decades and served as Arts & Entertainment Editor before purchasing the company from founder Brett Dickerson in 2026.
He is also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
