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Eco · Climate policy · published 2026-08-31 · via The Guardian

Joint chiefs chair says no military presence planned at US polling places

Image via The Guardian
Image via The Guardian

The chair of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Dan Caine, has written to Senator Elissa Slotkin stating that the military will not deploy federal personnel or federalized National Guard members to polling places during the 2026 midterm elections. He also said there are no plans to seize ballots or voting machines, and that he has not received any unlawful order. The senator had requested this assurance amid concerns about potential election interference.

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The letter cites a federal statute that bars armed federal forces from election sites unless needed to repel armed enemies of the United States. It also notes that any military involvement would most likely come from state-controlled National Guard units, not active-duty federal troops, given that legal restriction. Caine's explicit denial of receiving any unlawful order reinforces the military's institutional commitment to remaining apolitical in electoral matters.

Slotkin, who serves on the Senate armed services and homeland security committees, had requested responses from both Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by 28 August. While Caine replied, Hegs

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
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This summary is AI-generated and original to Mobble; the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “US military has no plans to send troops to midterm polling sites, Dan Caine says.” Browse more stories.