CNN —Ahead of potential civil unrest due to Tuesday’s presidential election, the National Guard is on standby as a precaution in several states, including Washington state and Oregon, where hundreds of ballots were damaged or destroyed after at least three ballot drop boxes were recently set on fire, officials say.
Tina Kotek said in a statement Friday the National Guard is standing ready as political leaders call for peaceful protests, according to CNN affiliate KTVZ.
In recent years, the National Guard has been activated in several states to assist largely with cyber security threats during elections.
The issue has become pressing for law enforcement since the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol that delayed certification of the last presidential election.
“If you ‘See Something, Say Something’, and let law enforcement investigate and determine the outcome of any suspicious circumstances or incidents.”CNN’s Chris Boyette, Shimon Prokupecz, and Meridith Edwards contributed to this report.
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