U.S Election: National Guard on standby over potential unrest
Ahead of potential civil unrest due to Tuesday’s presidential election in the United States, the National Guard is on standby as a precaution in several states, including Washington and Oregon, where hundreds of ballots were damaged or destroyed after at least three ballot drop boxes were recently set on fire, officials say.
Governor of Washington, Jay Inslee addressed the ballot box fires in a news release Friday, announcing that the National Guard has being placed on standby.
“The southwest region of Washington state has already experienced specific instances of election-related unrest,” he said.
Inslee did not disclose how many troops would be activated on Tuesday, but said they will be available to support law enforcement from Monday to Thursday, according to the news release.
In Oregon, Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement that the National Guard is standing ready as political leaders call for peaceful protests.
While there is “no current information to suggest unrest,” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said, “there is a lot of uncertainty and tension in our community.”
The governor of Nevada, Joe Lombardo, had also announced that 60 National Guard troops have placed on standby “in preparation for a safe and smooth Election Day.”
Lombardo said it mirrors the state’s routine preparation for past elections, and that “it is one of many proactive steps the state is taking.”
In Washington DC, more than 3,000 police officers will work 12-hour shifts while more preparations are also underway, Police Chief Pamela A. Smith, said in a news conference.
The issue of election unrest has become more pressing for law enforcement since the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol that delayed certification of the last presidential election.
