Post-election violence looms in US as ballot drop boxes are set ablaze in Vancouver and city of Portland in early voting, Washington State readies National Guard
The governor of Washington State in the north-western United States has activated some members of the National Guard to be on standby in case of election-related unrest.
The election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
“This is a purely precautionary measure,” a statement from Governor Jay Inslee’s office said on Friday.
A ballot drop box for early voting was set on fire with incendiary devices in Vancouver, Washington at the start of the week. Hundreds of ballots were destroyed.
A similar incident occurred in the nearby city of Portland, Oregon around the same time.
Reacting four days ago, Inslee tweeted: “This was a violent attack on democracy, and we will do everything to keep our election system strong and secure in Washington.
“Our state and local election teams are fully dedicated to making sure every person’s vote is counted fairly and accurately.
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Inslee’s office said on Friday that the governor, a Democrat, was responding to these incidents as well as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s nationwide warnings regarding threats to election infrastructure.
The National Guard is a state-based military force that answers both to governors and the president and is frequently deployed in response to natural disasters and other emergencies.
The guard will be on stand-by for four days in Washington State, beginning Monday, and ending just after midnight on Thursday.
Election Day is Tuesday but tens of millions of early votes have already been cast.
