Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Friday activated some members of the Washington National Guard and asked them to stand by in case they are needed to support local law enforcement and the Washington State Patrol during election week.
The governor gave the adjutant general the authority to determine how many Guard members will be activated.
This governor’s office calls the action a “purely precautionary measure” taken in response to nationwide warnings from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about threats to election infrastructure.
It’s also a response to other recent activity in southwest Washington, including an arson attack that set fire to a ballot box in Vancouver.
The Guard will be on standby for four days from Monday, November 4. Activation ends just after midnight on Thursday.
The activation request came in a letter from the governor to Major Gent Welsh, the adjutant general.
In the correspondence, Governor Inslee said the action was taken “to ensure we are fully prepared to respond” to potential civil unrest or violence.
“Our state depends on these skilled individuals for critical support to protect public health, safety and welfare, to include support needed to protect vital infrastructure related to the conduct of free and fair elections and to respond on any unrest related to the 2024 general election.”, Inslee wrote.
Welsh commands 8,000 soldiers and airmen in the Washington National Guard.
