2024 Election Updates: Millions Voted Early as Trump and Harris Race to the Finish Line

At least 245 National Guard troops in 18 states and Washington, D.C., have either been activated by their governors or are on standby, Pentagon officials said.

Many assist state governments with cybersecurity efforts, while others assist law enforcement and first responders in the event of protests or security incidents.

Workers erect scum fencing around the White House and Treasury Department on November 3, 2024. The nation’s Capitol is bracing for protests and potential unrest as a disputed Election Day looms on the horizon.

Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

There are 126 people involved in Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oregon, Wisconsin and Washington, a US official confirmed to ABC News.

There are 119 people on standby in Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia, the official said.

This amounts to an average of approximately 13 employees currently activated or on standby per state/district.

Those numbers are subject to change at the discretion of governors, the official said.

The decision to use the National Guard came after officials said ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington were destroyed. set fire to with incendiary devices last month. The governors of both states said they were putting Guard units on standby to assist local law enforcement. Nevada’s governor told local reporters he wants Guard members on standby in Las Vegas and Carson City.

In the District of Columbia, Guard members will be on duty specifically to assist the city’s fire and medical services from Tuesday through Nov. 13, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a briefing Monday.

– Anne Flaherty and Matt Seiler of ABC News