cisa.gov central@cisa.dhs.gov @CISAgov @CISACyber @cisagov As of February 2024 

OVERVIEW

Over the past two decades, U.S. government offices and employees have been the target of multiple incidents using 

letters containing hazardous materials, including suspicious letters mailed to election offices in California, Georgia, 

Nevada, Oregon, and Washington in 2023. Since mail is a key component of both standard office operations and mail 

balloting across the country, this guidance document provides background information for election offices on how to:

• Prepare to handle suspicious mail;

• Identify potentially suspicious mail; and

• Respond to potential hazardous materials exposure while handling suspicious mail.

PREPARING TO HANDLE SUSPICIOUS MAIL

All election offices should have procedures in place to handle mail and respond to potential hazardous 

materials exposure, and all personnel should be trained on these procedures. Procedures will vary across 

jurisdictions, depending on the size of the jurisdiction and number of personnel handling mail, among other 

factors.1 While some larger election offices have dedicated mail processing facilities, the majority of election offices 

do not. In these smaller offices, mail screening activities for election and non-election mail are often conducted 

within the same building that serves as the primary election office location. In either situation, the following 

considerations will prepare staff to handle suspicious mail:

• Mail Handling Location: Mail handling should take place in an isolated area with direct access to the

outside of the building, limiting movement of mail within the building prior to screening. If direct outside

access is not feasible, mail should be processed in a location that minimizes the spread of any potential

hazardous material, such as a room with doors that can be closed. Inside this location should be

prominently displayed signs which highlight suspicious letter and package indicators as visual guides for

mail handling.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): When handling any type of mail, offices should make available to

staff handling mail a smock or apron, mask or respirator.

2 and nitrile gloves with a minimum thickness of 5

mil. These items help protect individuals from potential exposure to hazards.

• Naloxone/Narcan: the use of fentanyl as a potential hazard in targeted attacks against election offices,

consider having on hand a minimum of two doses of Naloxone per person handling mail. Naloxone, often

referred to by its brand name NarcanTM, is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from

opioids like fentanyl, and has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system.3 Naloxone is

easy to use, available in all 50 states, D.C., and territories, and can be purchased from a local pharmacy

without a prescription in most states.4 Staff should know where this medication is located and be trained in

proper usage. For more information on how to obtain and use Naloxone/Narcan, election officials should

contact their jurisdiction’s health department.

1 Election officials can refer to the United States Postal Inspection Service Guide to Mail Center Security for guidance on how to assess their 

risk level, establish sound security protocols and how to handle suspicious mail.

2

Issuance of masks or respirators to personnel must be done In consultation with an appropriate medical authority and in compliance with 

OSHA standard 1910.134

3

“Naloxone Drug Facts,” National Institute of on Drug Abuse, https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone

4

 “Fentanyl Facts,” Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/

ELECTION MAIL HANDLING PROCEDURES TO 

PROTECT AGAINST HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
2

Commercial Routing Assistance

Election Mail Handling Procedures to Protect Against Hazardous Materials

cisa.gov central@cisa.dhs.gov @CISAgov @CISACyber @cisagov

IDENTIFYING SUSPICIOUS MAIL

Below are some common external characteristics of suspicious mail associated with criminal activity. Some of these 

indicators, such as unusual markings, excessive tape, and excessive postage, are also typical characteristics of 

legitimate election mail received from uniformed service members, overseas citizens, and other sources.

RESPONDING TO POTENTIAL TOXIC EXPOSURE

The general best practices outlined below protect against the three potentially lethal powders of greatest concern, 

fentanyl, anthrax, and ricin, in addition to more routine mail hazards. Election officials are not expected to know 

what type of hazardous material they may be encountering; however, they should be trained on and regularly 

exercise response procedures. If a potential hazardous material exposure occurs, election workers should take the 

following steps:

If the exposed individual(s) demonstrate signs of a fentanyl or opioid overdose, use these additional steps 

recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of overdose may include small, 

constricted pupils; falling asleep or losing consciousness; slow, weak, or no breathing; choking or gurgling sounds; 

limp body; cold and/or clammy skin; or discolored skin (especially in lips and nails).5

5 “Fentanyl Facts” Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/

As of February 2024 

1. Call 911 to request local law enforcement and emergency medical services (EMS).

2. Avoid actions that may cause powder to become airborne—do not move the mail piece around, shake out the contents, or

blow on it. If possible, place a garbage can or other container over the mail piece and/or spilled powder. Leave items in place.

3. Leave the room where the potential hazardous material is and close the door.

4. Isolate the immediate area and provide warnings to personnel not to enter the area. If possible, turn off ventilation or HVAC

systems or contact building maintenance to do so.

5. Do not touch your eyes, mouth, nose, or any skin after touching any potentially contaminated surface.

6. Remove any clothing or other items worn that may be contaminated with powder, including mail handling PPE. Place the

items inside a plastic bag or under a garbage can. If possible, do not pull clothes over the head.

7. Wash skin thoroughly with cool water and soap. Do NOT use hand sanitizers or any alcohol-based cleaners or bleach, as

they may enhance absorption.

8. Account for all people who were in the room where the potential exposure occurred and keep them together, outside if

possible, until emergency responders arrive.

9. If possible, avoid direct contact with any other person.

10. As soon as practical report the incident details to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Postal

Inspection Service (USPIS). Contact your FBI Election Crimes Coordinator or your FBI WMD Coordinator through your local field

office: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices or report to the FBI’s national tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

Contact USPIS at 1-877-876-2455.
3

Commercial Routing Assistance

Election Mail Handling Procedures to Protect Against Hazardous Materials

cisa.gov central@cisa.dhs.gov @CISAgov @CISACyber @cisagov

1. Administer Naloxone, if available. If Naloxone is not available, rescue breathing can be a lifesaving measure

until EMS arrives. Use standard basic life support safety precautions (e.g., mask, gloves, etc.) to reduce the

risk of exposure.

2. Try to keep the person awake and breathing.

3. Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.

4. Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS USED IN ATTACKS USING MAIL/LETTERS

FENTANYL ANTHRAX RICIN

DESCRIPTION

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic 

opioid 50 to 100 times more 

potent than morphine. As little as 

two milligrams, about the size of 5 

grains of salt, can cause negative 

health effects. 

Skin exposure to powdered or dry 

forms of fentanyl is not likely to 

cause overdoses in small 

amounts if promptly removed. 

Inhalation of airborne powder is 

most likely to lead to harmful 

effects but is less likely to occur 

than skin contact. Liquid or large 

amounts of solid fentanyl can be 

absorbed rapidly via skin and can 

be extremely toxic.6

Anthrax is a serious infectious 

disease caused by a naturally 

occurring bacteria that can be 

dried, purified, and made into a 

powder. Inhalation anthrax is the 

most serious form of infection. 

Skin contact with anthrax is the 

most common form of infection 

and is considered the least 

dangerous. Infection usually 

develops from 1 to 7 days after 

exposure.

7

Ricin is a poison found in castor 

beans and can be weaponized 

through a very technically difficult 

and complicated process. Ricin is 

unlikely to be absorbed through 

normal skin, and it is also very 

difficult to produce ricin that 

retains the physical properties 

which make it easy to inhale. Most 

ricin poisonings have occurred 

when the ricin was injected or 

swallowed. Symptoms of ricin 

poisoning are most likely to occur 

within 4 to 12 hours if the ricin 

was inhaled or swallowed.8

SYMPTOMS

▪ Respiratory distress, respiratory

depression or arrest

▪ Drowsiness

▪ Dizziness

▪ Disorientation

▪ Pinpoint pupils

▪ Loss of consciousness

▪ Nausea/vomiting

▪ Fever and chills

▪ Chest discomfort

▪ Shortness of breath

▪ Confusion or dizziness

▪ Cough

▪ Nausea, vomiting, or stomach

pains

▪ Headache

▪ Heavy sweating

▪ Respiratory distress

▪ Fever

▪ Cough

▪ Nausea

▪ Tightness in the chest

▪ Heavy sweating

▪ Fluid building up in the lungs

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Election officials can refer to the USPIS Guide to Mail Center Security for guidance on how to assess their risk

level, establish sound security protocols, and how to handle suspicious mail.

• Election officials can refer to the USPS Poster 84 to download and post a visual guide to suspicious mail

indicators in the room where mail is handled.

• Additional information about election official security, can be found at https://www.eac.gov/electionofficials/election-official-security

• State, territorial, and District of Columbia health department websites can be found at

https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html

6 “Prevention of Occupational Exposure to Fentanyl and Other Opioids.” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. 

https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/public/hasl_get_blob.cfm?ID=11206

7 “What is Anthrax”, Centers for Disease Control; https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/basics/index.html

8 “Facts About Ricin,” Centers for Disease Control, https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/ricin/facts.asp

As of February 2024