Given the amount of destruction and violence that occurred after the past two election, especially in 2020, many decided to board up their businesses and homes ahead of the election.

As the week of the presidential election kicked off, many businesses, homes, and government buildings across Washington D.C. and the entire nation were boarded up and fortified to mitigate potential destruction and violence following the results of the election, Fox News reported. 

Residents and business owners as far away from D.C. as Portland, Oregon, took precautions in anticipation of possible post-election fallout and chaos.

Many believe that no matter which candidate wins, some people from the losing side could react poorly to the outcome.

What's going on?

While the 2020 election fallout is still fresh for many, major violence and chaos erupted in West Coast areas like Portland following former President Donald Trump's 2016 election victory.

Some residents and business owners there were not happy with the prospect of boarding up their buildings and homes, just in case.

"It is completely ridiculous that we have to do this," downtown Portland employee Ebony Boger told a local ABC affiliate. "It's very precautionary, and I see why because I was here four years ago, and it was crazy down here. It's not shocking. I'm kind of used to it. I think they should do it."

Another resident, Stacy Snyder, said that it's better to take precautions just in case everything goes south later in the week.

"Hopefully no riots. Nobody wants to see anyone get hurt or any damage. After what happened last time, I guess, you have to be prepared for anything so, like I said, better safe than sorry," Snyder told the outlet.

The U.S. Secret Service has also taken precautionary measures for such scenarios, switching into what was described as an "enhanced posture," which included barricading the White House and other extra security measures.

Statement released

The Secret Service released a statement regarding its deployment of extra security measures for Election Day and beyond.

"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," the agency said Monday.

It added, "These enhancements are not in response to any specific issue but are part of wide-ranging public safety preparations for Tuesday's election."

Only time will tell if the extra security measures are needed. Hopefully not.