The Hamilton County Board of Elections office in Norwood was evacuated on Saturday, October 24, after a “suspicious substance” was received in the mail, during the first weekend of early voting, according to a statement by the board reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer.
First responders arrived at the office on Smith Road at around 10:50 a.m. on October 24, according to the board’s statement. No one was injured. The release did not provide more information about what the substance was.
Only the administrative office was evacuated, and early voting was not impacted, the statement said. Police evaluated the situation and cleared the building for re-entry, and the board told voters they could continue to vote during regular Saturday hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Hamilton County incident came as election offices nationally were on alert for suspicious mail. Ohio is one of at least 32 other states where suspicious letters have been sent to elections offices ahead of the midterms, according to WIRED reporting cited by the Enquirer, and Kentucky’s state office received a “white, powdery substance” on October 16, according to the Louisville Courier Journal.
For Hamilton County voters, the practical effect on Saturday was limited to the administrative side of the Norwood office. The early voting side continued, and the board’s statement made clear that voters could keep casting ballots during the posted hours after the building was cleared.
The Enquirer reported it had reached out to police for more information about the substance and the response. The board did not release further detail in its initial statement.
Early voting in Hamilton County continues under the statewide schedule, with Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, when polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday was the first weekend early voting day in Ohio for the November 3 general election, with boards across the state open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Hamilton County’s hours followed that statewide schedule.