The governors of Washington and Nevada have activated the National Guard in order to maintain order around the election.
Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) made the announcement on Friday, just days after several ballot boxes were set on fire in his state and in Oregon.
The Department of Homeland Security had previously warned that threats to election infrastructure were high this election cycle, which prompted Inslee to activate the members from Nov. 4 to Nov. 7.
Earlier this week, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R-NV) put 60 National Guard members on standby for Election Day “to support existing law enforcement preparations for Election Day on things like traffic enforcement and building security.”
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“As a first responder, I know first-hand the importance of being prepared, and this decision reflects my commitment to safety and preparedness on Election Day,” Lombardo said in a press release.
Enacting the National Guard to support Election Day operations is not new; in 2022, 14 states activated guard members to combat cyber threats during the midterm elections.