Two Snohomish County administrative buildings in downtown Everett were cleared out Wednesday after workers discovered a suspicious substance inside a ballot box in a basement, according to authorities. HazMat crews, law-enforcement bomb technicians and detectives converged on the county campus, and nearby streets were closed while the item was evaluated.
Officials On Scene
Officials described the evacuation as a precaution while crews worked to figure out exactly what was inside the ballot box. As reported by FOX 13 Seattle, the discovery prompted the shutdown of the Admin East and Admin West buildings, and there was no immediate estimate on when employees would be allowed back inside.
Where It Happened
The suspicious item was found in a ballot box located in the basement of a county campus building, authorities said. The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office and first responders, including the Everett Fire Department, remained on scene as teams tested the substance, KIRO 7 News reports.
County Elections Center
The county campus at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue is home to the Snohomish County elections office, which oversees ballot drop boxes and other election services. The county lists the Admin West building as the official elections office location and uses its elections webpages to provide ballot-tracking tools and drop-box details for voters, Snohomish County says.
Context: Past Threats To Election Offices
Mailings containing white powder have forced evacuations at other Washington election offices in recent years, and in some cases tests have detected trace amounts of fentanyl that drew in federal authorities. Reporting from KUOW notes that similar incidents in 2023 led to investigations by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which helps explain why any unknown substance at an election facility now triggers such a cautious and high-profile response.
Investigation And Next Steps
The response involved the Everett Fire Department, South County Fire HazMat teams, law-enforcement bomb technicians and detectives, who worked together to identify the suspicious substance, according to KIRO 7 News. Authorities shut down Oakes Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Wall Street while testing continued and said there was no timeline for reopening the evacuated buildings, FOX 13 Seattle notes. Detectives with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office are investigating, and officials say more information will be released as it becomes available.
