Election Officials Plan for ICE to Appear at Elections

A week later, at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Todd Blanche’s current attorney general he accepted the idea of ICE at the polls and repeated the conspiracy theory about non-citizens voting as a reason to send ICE. “Why are there restrictions on sending ICE officers to polling places?” he asked. “Criminals can’t vote. It makes no sense.”

Asked to comment on ICE’s proposed election, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “President Trump has made it clear: Protecting our elections and ensuring that only American citizens vote in American elections is a top priority.”

Similarly, a DHS spokesperson referred WIRED to Mullin’s comments, adding, “Elections exist for the American people, not illegal aliens, to elect their leaders.”

Elections, as per the US Constitution, have been controlled by the states, even though Trump and his allies want the elections to be held “nationalized,” this will remain the case through the midterms of 2026. Sending ICE, the National Guard, or any other armed agencies to polling places is prohibited. under US law.

The political message, however, has left election officials and voters unsure of what to expect.

“I think the history of the administration is that, as much as I sit people down and tell them that we got confirmation (that ICE will not be in the polling places), I don’t know how much they believe,” said an election official in an eastern state. “I’m not sure the management knows where they’re going, but we’re preparing for all scenarios.” The leader asked not to be named out of fear of retaliation from the government and worries that federal election funds could be saved.

In Maine, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows called for state approval by writing, to send a letter to DHS in March seeking assurances that ICE would not be sent to the polls. The letter was signed by eight other secretaries of state. Months later, Bellows still hasn’t received a response.

“We haven’t received any convincing confirmation from the government, but we don’t expect anything,” says Bellows. “Donald Trump will not infiltrate our polling stations, steal our votes, or manipulate our elections just because he wants to.”

Maine is one of many countries The Department of Justice said the defendant for their refusal to give a chance to unconverted voters. Last September, the state sued Bellows, alleging that as secretary of state, Maine did not comply with the National Voter Registration Act. Bellows is filed a motion to quit a case.

Like many election leaders, Bellows and his colleagues are preparing for events they have never imagined before. “Electoral officials are the best prepared for emergencies,” Bellows said.