WEST CHESTER, PA — The ballot with the suspicious substance discovered in West Chester last week contains no biohazard, and the individual who dropped the ballot off has been identified, authorities said Monday following an investigation.
The FBI ordered the initial lab testing which showed the negative result. Something called "final confirmation testing," which will take another 7 to 10 days, is currently underway.
The voter who stuffed and dropped the ballot was an elderly man, the Chester County District Attorney's Office said.
They added that he is cooperating with officials and the incident is being "treated as a non-criminal matter."
It remains unclear what the substance actually was, why it was placed inside the envelope in the first place, and whether it was some sort of accident.
The ballot has been invalidated, the DA's office added.
The man dropped the ballot in to a local drop box, officials said.
A hazardous materials emergency crew responded to the building at around 10:06 a.m. Friday on 313 West Market Street.
The building was evacuated and the area nearby closed off to traffic and residents as the scene was investigated.
A Chester County Voter Services employee found the substance-filled envelope, which was described only as "non-liquid."
Within 45 minutes of arriving, the hazmat crew gave the all clear in the room where the envelope was found. No injuries or illnesses were reported.
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