UPDATE - US: Cities, businesses brace for post-election violence

UPDATES WITH MORE THAN 3,600 SERVICE MEMBERS OF NATIONAL GUARD ACTIVATED ACROSS 16 STATES AGAINST POTENTIAL CIVIL UNREST THROUGH PARAGRAPHS 8-10

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - Many cities and businesses in the US have braced for potential violence and chaos on Tuesday and beyond as long-awaited elections bring both high stakes and charged emotions.

Although some 100 million Americans have taken advantage of early mail-in voting, more than 50 million are still expected to cast their ballots in person on Election Day, a significant increase from the 139 million who cast ballots in 2016.

But the looming threat of election-related violence in US cities and streets led many business owners to board up windows and shut their stores.

In Florida, some stores including Macy's, Target, and CVS were boarded up in Miami's upscale Design District as major retailers across the country have intensified security measures to prevent any damages to their stores in the potential post-election violence. Similar measures were seen in Washington D.C.

"The stakes are high for this election and the national mood appears dark," the Brookings Institution said in a report on Oct. 27.

"Violence could manifest in ways big and small. Local extremists might seek to ‘defend’ a polling place and, in so doing, intimidate voters form another party," the think tank added.

The possibility that election results could be delayed, or contested, have businesses and homeowners worried that commercial and residential properties may see some damage if case of riots.

Across 16 states more than 3,600 service members of National Guard, reserve components of US Army and Air Force, have been activated to stay on alert on potential civil unrest.

The service members' duties include assisting polling stations, providing cybersecurity support and responding to protests on Election Day or later, since US laws prohibit active-duty military to police the public and enforce domestic order.

Spending around $200,000 to buy protective gear and train members against protests, 300 National Guard members are activated in Alabama and Arizona each, while Massachusetts ordered 1,000 members to standby, and Texas said it may send up to 1,000 troops if needed.

Democrats have pointed to statements by US President Donald Trump that seem to welcome, encourage, and foreshadow violence if he fails to win or the result is less than clear cut.

In several statements, Trump hinted that he will commit to a peaceful transfer of power only if the elections are far from ''fraud.'' On the Election Day, Trump told Fox News that he will declare victory only when there is a victory.

The US states of Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania are seen as swing states in the race between Trump and his Democratic contender Joe Biden.

Some other states, such as Minnesota, Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Texas, could bring surprises to election observers.

Public unrest is still fresh in the minds of Americans, with massive and prolonged protests and deadly riots earlier this year in the states of Oregon and Minnesota following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, under the knee of a white police officer.

Americans also recently witnessed protests and riots in at least a dozen states after there was no indictment for police officers for the death of Breonna Taylor, an African-American woman who fatally shot in her apartment.

In major cities, local police departments have also notified the public there might be street closures due to scheduled rallies and protests on Tuesday and Wednesday, when organizers have promised “count every vote” demonstrations.