US states call in National Guard... and doubts about the date of announcing the results of the US elections

US states have called up dozens of National Guard members to support election security efforts, amid tense conditions and fears of potential political violence, while controversy rages over when the results of the presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris are expected to emerge.

The Hill newspaper quoted the National Guard Bureau as saying that 252 of its members are currently actively deployed in 15 states: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

The office added that 87 other Guard members are on alert for possible deployment to Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Washington, D.C.

The National Guard Bureau said the deployment was consistent with procedures in previous elections.

But The Hill said that this year's elections are taking place in a very tense atmosphere, noting that Trump has claimed from the beginning that the Democrats are cheating, and said that he will not accept the result unless the elections are "free and fair."

Meanwhile, the campaign of Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump said that some crucial states will announce their results immediately after the polls close, while other states will announce their results later.

On the other hand, CNN quoted sources as saying that the Trump campaign realizes that the election results will likely not be announced on Tuesday night.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said she hopes unofficial results in the state will come out earlier than in the 2020 election.

Michigan is one of seven swing states expected to decide the outcome of this presidential race.

(Al Jazeera + American Press)