US retailers cautious in fear of election violence

Anxiety mounts up for the US retailers as they cover up their shops with wood planks for fear of violence and vandalism prior to the presidential election in the coming hours.

Several employers are giving their employees time off for participating in the voting process on Tuesday. However, most streets were seen closing up in the wake of a possible post-election agitation as the final day of the campaign marks the win of the candidates. The decision to shut down is an agony to the sales of the retail industry, which declined by almost $122 billion because of the lockdown in March forced by the pandemic, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Following the killing of George Floyd by the police, business owners witnessed civil unrest while coping up with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some states have been slammed by a wave of violence which led to property damage and widespread burglaries across the country. Many small business owners are still waiting for an insurance claim for damage caused earlier during the riots.

According to the wall street journal, the partial results which appear on Tuesday night are likely to fluctuate as ballots are counted at varying times in different states. The officials are cautioning Americans to remain patient and not get carried away by early results.