Washington Governor Activates National Guard Ahead Of Potential Election-Week Unrest

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has activated members of the Washington National Guard as a precautionary measure ahead of the 2024 U.S. election, citing "potential civil unrest.' The decision was announced in a , which said that select National Guard members will be on standby to support local law enforcement and the Washington State Patrol if needed during election week. The Adjutant General has been given authority to determine "how many members of the Guard will be activated.""This is a purely precautionary measure taken in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s nationwide warnings regarding threats to election infrastructure and other recent activities that have occurred in southwestern Washington," the governor’s office noted. "The Guard will be on stand-by for four days, beginning Monday, November 4, and ending just after midnight on Thursday, November 7, 2024."Governor Inslee also issued a letter to Major General Gent Welsh, commanding the Washington Army and Air National Guard, expressing concerns about possible election-related violence. He highlighted recent incidents in southwestern Washington, including an October 28 incendiary attack on a ballot drop box in Vancouver, Washington, which damaged hundreds of ballots. A similar incident occurred at a drop box in Portland, Oregon."In response to the situation described above and the potential for further violence and illegal activity, I am directing the Washington National Guard (WANG) to prepare to provide critical public safety support by activating necessary Washington National Guard personnel in a standby status. In this role, the WANG will support local law enforcement and the Washington State Patrol as needed. Our state depends on these skilled individuals for critical support to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, to include support necessary to protect vital infrastructure related to carrying out free and fair elections and to respond to any unrest related to the 2024 general election," Gov Inslee wrote.