Washington puts National Guard on stand-by over likely poll unrest
The governor of Washington state in the north-western United States has activated some members of the National Guard to be on stand-by in case of election-related unrest.
“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.
Inslee’s office said 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. (
dpa/NAN)
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