Inslee activates Washington National Guard ahead of Election Day

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday he had activated the Washington National Guard to assist local law enforcement and the Washington State Patrol as needed to quell any election-related unrest.

The “purely precautionary measure” comes in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s nationwide warnings of threats to election infrastructure and a deliberately set fire that damaged and destroyed hundreds of ballots in a Vancouver drop box on Monday.

Inslee, in a letter to Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh, the adjutant general, said the action was being taken “to ensure we are fully prepared to respond” to any potential civil unrest or violence.

“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,” Inslee wrote.

Welsh, who oversees the 8,000 soldiers and airmen of the Washington National Guard, will decide how many people will be activated and serve on standby from Monday until just after midnight on Thursday, Nov. 7, according to the governor’s office.