In the wake of the US presidential elections on November 5, several states, including Washington and Oregon, have put the National Guard on standby to help police and other law enforcement agencies if needed. According to officials, the decision to deploy the National Guard was made after ballot box burning incidents in Washington and Oregon. Washington Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement that the National Guard would be on standby to assist. He did not say how many National Guard troops would be deployed on November 5, the day of the election, but said that the National Guard would be available in sufficient numbers to assist law enforcement from Monday to Thursday. Inslee added in the statement that the US Department of Homeland Security has warned of the possibility of disrupting the election process. Therefore, no negligence will be allowed. “Given concerns about potential violence and other illegal activities during the general election, I want to ensure that we are fully prepared to respond if necessary,” she said. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also said in a statement that the National Guard has been placed on standby.
