US states wary of election unrest take security precautions

The most visible measures are in states where protests broke out in 2020

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A security fence rings a Las Vegas building where Nevada tabulates votes. An Arizona sheriff has his department on high alert to guard against potential violence, with drones and snipers on standby. Governors of at least three states have called for National Guard troops to help maintain the peace.

As a tense US votes for either Republican Donald Trump or Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris for president, concerns about potential political violence have prompted officials to take a variety of measures to bolster security during and after election day.

Many of the most visible moves can be seen in the battleground states that will decide the presidential election, states like Nevada, where protests by supporters of former president Trump broke out after the 2020 election.

In 2024, a security fence rings the scene of some of those protests the Las Vegas tabulation centre. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo said last week that he had activated a "limited contingent" of 60 members of the National Guard to ensure a timely response to any challenges.

In Arizona, a similar metal fence has been erected at the Maricopa County vote tabulation centre in downtown Phoenix, a flashpoint in 2020 for rigged election conspiracy theories and threats against election officials.