Washington State, in the north-western United States, is bracing for potential election-related unrest as Governor Jay Inslee places select National Guard units on standby.
The activation, announced on Friday, is a “purely precautionary measure,” according to a statement from the governor’s office.
The decision follows a disturbing incident earlier in the week, in which a ballot drop box in Vancouver, Washington, was set ablaze with incendiary devices, leading to the destruction of hundreds of ballots.
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A similar attack occurred around the same time 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.
As a state-based military reserve, the National…