Brennan Center Says Federal Law Bars Armed Agents at Polls as Trump Floats November Deployment
Updated
Updated · WABE 90.1 FM · Aug 12
Brennan Center Says Federal Law Bars Armed Agents at Polls as Trump Floats November Deployment
1 articles · Updated · WABE 90.1 FM · Aug 12
Summary
Federal law already prohibits armed agents from being deployed to polling places, the Brennan Center said after renewed scrutiny of election security powers.
Trump fueled that scrutiny in May when asked about sending ICE agents or the National Guard to polling locations in November, saying he would do “anything necessary” to ensure “honest elections.”
DHS, which oversees ICE, has repeatedly said it has no plans to station agents at polling sites, but voting-rights experts called the president’s suggestion unprecedented and legally unsupported.
Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center said the president has no authority over election administration, while recent court wins shielding private voter data offer some reassurance about system stability.