The governors of three states — Washington, Nevada and Oregon — said they’re prepared to use the National Guard to help with potential civil unrest on Election Day or the days after.
Heeding warnings from the Department of Homeland Security about threats of violence during the week of the presidential election , Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo activated National Guard members to support local and state law enforcement. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek hasn’t activated her state’s National Guard, but her office said Monday that Guardsmen are “trained and ready” in case they’re needed.
In a joint bulletin, DHS and the FBI warned of potential violence from domestic extremists who believe claims of election fraud or harbor anger toward perceived political adversaries. The agencies wrote that extremists would likely target voting locations, ballot drop-boxes, voter registration locations, political rallies, campaign events and the offices of political parties.
In the lead-up to the election, some of those warnings have become realities. An Arizona man was accused of shooting at a Democratic National Committee office last week near Phoenix. Also last week, ballot boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, were set on fire , and hundreds of ballots were destroyed.