There's growing concern that Trump may deploy the National Guard ahead of elections
Democratic lawmakers and military experts are expressing concern that the Trump administration may deploy the National Guard to polling places during the upcoming election. While federal law prohibits such actions, officials have avoided direct denials, prompting civil rights groups to prepare legal and public awareness campaigns.
Why it matters
The potential use of military force at polling stations raises significant concerns regarding voter intimidation and the preservation of democratic norms in the U.S.
With Election Day less than 50 days away, a growing number of Democratic lawmakers, retired military leaders and civil society organizations are seeking assurance from members of the Trump administration that the U.S. military will not be deployed to or around polling places — while also preparing for such a move to occur.
Having armed federal agents — like the FBI or Immigration and Customs Enforcement — or military troops near the polls is clearly barred by federal law, but President Trump and several other key officials have recently sidestepped direct lines of questioning around the issue.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in