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

Ahead of Election Day on Nov. 5, leaders in the Pacific Northwest are preparing for potential public safety concerns.

The National Guard has hundreds of troops activated or on standby across the country to defend against cyber attacks and support operations during Tuesday’s presidential election.

A few states have said they will have the National Guard on standby as a precaution for potential civil unrest on Election Day after ballot drop boxes were set on fire last week.

As the United States presidential election inches closer in some hours from now, National Guard troops have been placed on standby in several states,

Oregon and Nevada also plan on having National Guard troops on standby to assist local law enforcement on election day.

The decision by Gov. Jay Inslee comes after ballot boxes were burned in his state and in Oregon, and amid broader concerns about election-related violence.

The Department of Homeland Security had previously warned that threats to election infrastructure were high this election cycle.

At least 245 National Guard personnel across 18 states, including Wisconsin, are on standby for Election Day, according to Pentagon officials. In Wisconsin, as in other states, National Guard members are likely assisting with cybersecurity efforts and standing ready to support law enforcement and first responders in case of protests or security incidents.

Washington’s National Guard is now on standby for unlawful activity related to the election, but officials are saying very little about what that means.