Inslee puts National Guard on stand-by to support law enforcement if needed during election week

Gov. Jay Inslee has activated some Washington National Guard members to be on stand-by in the event they are asked to support local law enforcement and the Washington State Patrol during election week, the Governor’s Office announced late Friday afternoon.

The governor has sent a letter to The Adjutant General, Major General Gent Welsh, giving him the authority to determine how many members of the Guard will be activated, according to the news release.

“Based upon general and specific information and concerns regarding the potential for violence or other unlawful activity related to the 2024 general election, I want to ensure we are fully prepared to respond to any potential additional civil unrest,” the letter says.

“Preparation to respond to civil unrest of the type already experienced will also require state level coordination and the activation of additional support functions within Washington’s Emergency Management System,” the letter also says.

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 news release says.

On Monday, Oct. 28, an incendiary device was set off in a drop box in Vancouver damaging or destroying hundreds of ballots, and a similar device targeted a ballot box in Portland.

The Guard will be on stand-by for four days, beginning today, and ending just after midnight on Thursday.