Election Day is upon us finally and here we are with governors calling up the National Guard—not to handle a natural disaster, but to prepare for the “potential unrest” that could follow the presidential election results. Apparently, the anxiety is high enough that states from the Pacific Northwest to Nevada are taking no chances. Even Colorado’s Cyber Task Force is at the ready to ward off election-related cyber threats. The stakes are high, the divisions are deep, and no one’s leaving anything to chance.
Take Washington State, for example. Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat, announced Friday that some members of the state’s National Guard will be on standby due to concerns about possible violence. This isn’t your typical pre-election prep—Inslee’s got his Guard troops ready to respond because someone recently torched a ballot box in Vancouver, Washington, leaving everyone a little jittery about what might come next. The FBI is now investigating this incident, along with a similar one in Portland, Oregon, where a ballot box was also targeted by arson. Both of these attacks had a “Free Gaza” message stamped on incendiary devices, adding a whole new layer of potential motive and unrest to the mix.
Meanwhile, Oregon’s governor, Tina Kotek, followed suit, putting her state’s National Guard on alert as well. It’s unsettling to think that ballot boxes are now potential targets in politically charged attacks, with arsonists even attempting a similar attack earlier this month. Voters affected by these incidents have been asked to track their ballots online and get replacements if needed. The message here? Security is a real concern, and tensions are simmering just below the surface.
Even Nevada, a battleground state with plenty riding on the results, isn’t immune from these preparations. Republican Governor Joe Lombardo has 60 National Guard troops on standby, prepared to ensure a smooth and safe Election Day. Lombardo’s approach is a model of calm and preparation, saying that his state is simply taking “proactive steps” after talking things over with local officials. He’s not expecting chaos, but he’s not about to be caught off-guard either.
These preparations tell us one thing loud and clear: Americans are gearing up for a charged election. Three major law enforcement groups—the Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association—released a joint statement encouraging citizens to stay vigilant, echoing that classic post-9/11 motto, “If you see something, say something.”
In today’s America, we’re apparently just as prepared for fireworks at the polls as we are for casting our votes. Let’s hope cooler heads prevail and these National Guard troops end up with a quiet night. But in case they don’t, at least we know our states are prepared to keep order if things get out of hand.
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