As Election Day approaches, various government agencies and private businesses are taking precautionary measures to prepare for potential unrest. The Secret Service has confirmed the erection of barriers around key sites in Washington, D.C., such as the White House and the vice president's residence. Private businesses in cities like New York, Portland, and Washington, D.C., are also boarding up their storefronts in anticipation of possible disturbances.
The Secret Service is collaborating with federal, state, and local partners to enhance safety and security in the nation's capital and Palm Beach County, Florida. Additional security measures include fencing around the Treasury Department and bike-rack barriers fortifying the Capitol. Howard University, where Vice President Harris will be on election night, will also see heightened security.
States are ramping up security efforts as well, with Luzerne County in Pennsylvania placing protective boulders around the Bureau of Elections office. Massachusetts plans to deploy extra police to polling sites and activate a Homeland Security Operations Center on Election Day.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee has activated the National Guard to respond to potential violence leading up to and following the election. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have issued bulletins warning of potential violence from domestic extremists with election-related grievances.
Residents and business owners express mixed feelings about the need for these security measures. While some view them as necessary precautions based on past experiences, others lament the sad reality that such measures are required. The concerns stem from fears of domestic violent extremists inciting violence or even attempting to initiate a civil war.
