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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.
The National Guard, a state-based military reserve that typically responds to natural disasters and other emergencies, can be mobilized by both state governors and the president. Despite the activation, some national security experts believe that a repeat of election violence to the scale of the January 6, 2021 insurrection is unlikely.