Washington State Deploys National Guard to Respond to Risk of Election-Related Violence

Washington Governor Jay Inslee said he has activated some National Guard members amid concerns about potential violence related to the 2024 US election.

"Based on general and specific information and concerns regarding the potential for violence or other illegal activities related to the 2024 general election, I want to ensure that we are fully prepared to respond," Washington Governor Jay Inslee wrote in a letter published on his website on November 1, according to Reuters.

According to Mr. Inslee, hundreds of ballots were damaged or destroyed due to the use of incendiary devices in ballot boxes in Vancouver, Washington state.

A ballot box used to collect early votes ahead of the official US presidential election on November 5 was set on fire in a suspected arson attack in Vancouver, Washington state, on October 28.

Washington state, where Democratic presidential candidate, US Vice President Kamala Harris, is considered to be able to easily defeat Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump according to polls, is one of two places where ballot boxes were burned this week, according to Reuters.

According to the Election Lab at the University of Florida (USA), people in Washington state can vote early and more than 2 million people have voted.

Officials in fierce battleground states are also preparing for misinformation, conspiracy theories and the potential for violence. In major cities like Philadelphia, Detroit and Atlanta, Georgia, officials are ramping up measures to prepare for a repeat of the chaos of 2020.

Additionally, election workers in the battleground state of Wisconsin have been trained in de-escalation techniques and polling stations have been repositioned to allow workers an escape route if surrounded by protesters. And in the battleground state of Arizona, the epicenter of false claims of voter fraud in 2020, state election officials are working with local officials on how to respond to misinformation.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bang-washington-trien-khai-ve-binh-quoc-gia-ung-pho-nguy-co-bao-luc-lien-quan-bau-cu-185241102165019958.htm