Less than 24 hours before voters head to the polls to decide who the next President of the United States will be, officials in the nation’s capital are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst as law enforcement and area businesses are prepping for mass looting and riots as a result of tomorrow’s election.
According to reports from local Fox affiliate Fox 5, crews were seen working on fencing off the Naval Observatory, where Vice President Kamala Harris lives.
Additionally, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told Fox 5 that the district has been preparing for the election for months, and heightened security measures will be in place through the inauguration in January.
D.C. Police Department has put out a traffic notice on social media ahead of Harris’ election night party at Howard University, as street closures, no parking zones and transit detours will be in effect.
Local authorities are also ramping up security in Palm Beach County, Florida — where Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence is located.
“The U.S. Secret Service is working closely with our federal, state and local partners in Washington, D.C. and Palm Beach County, Florida to ensure the heightened levels of safety and security this Election Day,” an emailed statement to Fox News Digital from the U.S. Secret Service reads.
“In the coming days, fencing and other physical public safety measures will be installed around the Naval Observatory, White House, and the Palm Beach County Convention Center. These enhancements are not in response to any specific issue but are part of wide-ranging public safety preparations for Tuesday’s election.”
According to The Hill, no current threats exist to the nation’s capital ahead of the election, but precautions are being taken in case the election results cause unrest, including local businesses closing early and boarding up their windows and doors.
More DC businesses being boarded up due to nervousness about the election. pic.twitter.com/5xDkQoNvUC
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) November 3, 2024
Local D.C. residents are apprehensive about unrest in the city due to the election.
“I mean, it is sad that it has to come to that,” D.C. resident Lucas Argeles told Fox 5 about the fences and boarded-up windows.
“I understand why store owners, especially local businesses, would want to do that. Even outside of the elections, there have been other instances where they should have boarded and they didn’t. It’s sad. It’s the reality. But I hope that this time it’s just a precautionary measure, nothing happens, and then yeah.”