Cities and states across the U.S. are bracing for potential election-related violence, despite a largely peaceful voting period so far, with millions of ballots already cast without incident. The US National Guard is set to deploy across 19 states for election peacekeeping.
In Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith announced a "full activation" of her force, putting all officers on 12-hour shifts to ensure they are available for rapid response across the city. Should the need arise, she added, officers from neighboring areas could be called in for extra support.
A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows that 72% of likely voters are concerned about possible violence linked to the election.
In Washington State, Governor Jay Inslee has placed select National Guard members on standby to assist local law enforcement if unrest occurs or to safeguard critical election infrastructure. “This is a purely precautionary measure,” Inslee's office clarified, citing recent threats flagged by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Meanwhile, across the river in Portland, Ore., local police are also increasing their staffing around Election Day as a precaution, though no specific threats have been reported. This comes after ballot drop boxes in Portland and nearby Vancouver, Wash., were set on fire last week, damaging some ballots in Portland and hundreds in Vancouver. Investigations to find those responsible are ongoing.
* Axios contributed to this article.
