Washington DC

Is America preparing for election riots? Stores and properties in the US capital have put up big plywood planks, the National Guard is on standby, and security is beefed up across major government institutions as the US fears a redux of the 2020 election aftermath amid a likely nailbiting close contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

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In Washington DC, the seat of American government and Congress, metal security fences have been erected around the White House, US Capitol and the official residence of Harris, the incumbent vice president who will be reading out the final results of the election on January 6, as per Constitution.

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It was on that day in 2021 that riots broke out when Congress was in a joint session to officially declare the winner of the Electoral College votes, which decides the final outcome of the US presidential elections.

The Washington Post reported that the eight-foot-high metal fences were built by the US Secret Service around the White House, Treasury Department complex, Lafayette Square and the Naval Observatory.

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Bicycle-rack barriers were seen at the Capitol, which houses the US Senate and House of Representatives, the site of the 2021 Capitol Hill riot when Trump supporters ran amock after he rejected the election results.

In view of assassination attempts on Trump, the Secret Service is not leaving anything to chance. Security has been beefed up outside the West Palm Beach convention centre in Florida, where Trump will be watching the results along with supporters on Election Night on November 5.

Streets will be closed and traffic restrictions will be in place at Howard University, where Harris will be with her supporters during Election Night.

In scenes reminiscent of 2020-21, several businesses have been putting up plywood barriers in front of their properties in view of any potential mayhem.

Also read: 'So much room for error': Netizens react as US election worker collects ballots from dropbox

The Washington Post report said that security steps never seen before are in place, including drones, panic buttons and snipers on standby.

The snipers will be on the rooftop of key vote-counting centres.

Panic buttons will be given to election workers.

Surveillance drones will be deployed at several places.

Earlier reports said that in several states across the country, the National Guard troops are on standby, particularly in Washington state, Oregon and Nevada in view of possible unrest after elections.

(With inputs from agencies)