In response to potential election-related unrest, National Guard troops have been put on standby in Washington state , Oregon, and Nevada. The decision was announced by Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Friday (November 1), following incidents of ballot boxes being burned in his state and Oregon. The activation is a “purely precautionary measure,” according to a statement from the governor’s office. The troops will be on standby from November 4 through November 7 to support law enforcement, protect key infrastructure, and respond to any unrest. The number of troops to be activated will be determined by the state’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh , and will not be disclosed.
The decision comes after a ballot drop box in Vancouver, Washington, was set ablaze with incendiary devices, leading to the destruction of hundreds of ballots. A similar attack occurred in Portland, Oregon, heightening concerns of escalating violence in the lead-up to and aftermath of Election Day. Governor Inslee’s response aligns with a recent advisory from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which issued a nationwide alert on threats to election infrastructure.