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In anticipation of possible civil unrest due to Tuesday’s presidential election, the National Guard is on standby as a precaution in several states, including Washington and Oregon, where hundreds of ballots were damaged or destroyed after at least three ballot boxes were recently set on fire, officials said.

Nearly all of the ballots set on fire Monday were in a box in Vancouver, Washington, while most of the ballots cast in a box in Portland, Oregon, survived a fire started on same day, election officials said. The incidents are believed to be linked to a third fire that occurred on October 8, also in Vancouver. Portland police released a physical description of a suspect but said they had not identified him.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee address polls go up in flames in a press release Friday announcing the National Guard’s standby, saying “the Southwest Washington region has already experienced specific instances of election-related unrest.”

Inslee did not reveal how many troopers would be activated Tuesday, but said they would be available to support law enforcement Monday through Thursday, according to the news release.

The US Department of Homeland Security warned that threats to “election infrastructure” remained high, Inslee added.

“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 to any possible additional civil unrest” , Inslee said.

In Oregon, Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement Friday that the National Guard was ready as political leaders called for peaceful protests, according to KTVZ, CNN affiliate.

“The governor’s office is monitoring and coordinating closely with local, state and federal agencies to ensure Oregon voters can cast their ballots safely,” the statement said.

While there is “no current information to suggest unrest,” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said, according to KTVZ, “there is a lot of uncertainty and tension in our community.”

Oregon State Police are also coordinating with Portland law enforcement, KTVZ reported, as well as the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.

Portland’s Unified Command, which includes city police, is increasing its troop numbers Tuesday “as a precaution,” according to a report. press release.

In 2020, former Oregon Governor Kate Brown placed the National Guard on standby for a 48-hour period around Election Day and activated a unified command consisting of state troopers, deputies of the Portland Sheriff and Police to handle any protests. according to Associated Press.

In recent years, the National Guard has been activated in several states to largely help combat cybersecurity threats during elections. The Colorado National Guard’s Cybersecurity Task Force was activated this year — a practice in place since 2018 — to protect election “infrastructure,” the Colorado Secretary of State’s office said in a statement. statement last month.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo also this week announcement that 60 National Guard troops are on standby “in preparation for a safe and smooth election day.”

“This decision, which reflects the state’s usual preparation for past elections, was made after consultation with election officials and state leaders,” Lombardo said in a statement. “This is one of many proactive steps the state is taking to ensure all possible resources are in place to respond in a timely manner to any challenges that arise.” »

The activation will support state and local resources on Election Day, the release said.

Preparations are also being made in Washington, D.C., where more than 3,000 police officers will work 12-hour shifts, Police Chief Pamela A. Smith said in a press conference Tuesday.

To ensure safety, police chiefs across the United States are making unprecedented plans for Election Day and the weeks that follow. The issue has become pressing for law enforcement since the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol which delayed the certification of the last presidential election.

Three law enforcement associations representing agencies across the country – the Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Sheriffs’ Association and the Major Cities Chiefs Association – said in a statement joint statement As of last month, authorities had been preparing for more than a year and a half before the elections and asked citizens to also remain vigilant.

“As always, the associations encourage the public to speak out if they witness anything suspicious or unusual regarding election activities,” the statement said. “If you see something, say something and let law enforcement investigate and determine the outcome of any suspicious circumstances or incidents.”

CNN’s Chris Boyette, Shimon Prokupecz and Meridith Edwards contributed to this report.