Collins says ICE at polling places "would intimidate a lot of legitimate American voters"
Susan CollinsU.S. senator (Republican, Maine)
Speaking to reporters in Biddeford, Maine, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she disagrees with Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles' plan to invite ICE agents to Maine's polling places. She said an ICE presence at the polls "would intimidate a lot of legitimate American voters" and, "I just think it would make them very uncomfortable".
“To have ICE present at the polls I think would intimidate a lot of legitimate American voters. I just think it would make them very uncomfortable.”
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should ICE and other armed federal agents be allowed at or near polling places in the 2026 election?
Since February 2026, federal officials have given differing answers about whether ICE and other armed federal agents could be at or near polling places during the November 3 election. On September 1, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE would be at a polling place only if there is a threat to it or agents are serving a warrant, and DHS told Politico that ICE is not planning operations targeting polling locations but that arrests could result if an active public safety threat endangered one. On September 10, 18 and 23, 2026, LULAC and other groups, a coalition including the NAACP, and Democratic leaders and party committees sued separately in federal court in Washington. They allege that the administration's statements and actions violate 18 U.S.C. 592, Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, or both. As of September 25, the court dockets show no motion for a preliminary injunction and no answer or motion to dismiss from the federal defendants, and no court has ruled.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
WGME report on Sen. Susan Collins's remarks opposing ICE at Maine polling places. It also reports the Charles campaign's explanation of his remarks, a DHS statement that it has no plans to place ICE agents at polling locations, and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows's view that federal law bans armed agents there.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Bangor Daily News report that Sen. Susan Collins said she disagrees with Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles' plan to invite ICE agents to Maine's polls. It quotes Collins and Charles. The Bangor Daily News and WGME print the first sentence of Collins's remark with slightly different wording.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Collins spoke to reporters during a visit to a Biddeford business after Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles said, in audio obtained by the Bangor Daily News, that he would make an appeal for ICE and marshals to be at Maine voting booths three or four weeks before the election.
After the quotation
WGME reported that a few days after the remarks the Charles campaign said Maine should have an open line of communication with federal authorities to prevent illegal voting, violence and intimidation, and that Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said the plan would be illegal and unconstitutional.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE and other armed federal agents at or near polling places in the 2026 election. Collins, a Republican, said an ICE presence at polling places would intimidate legitimate voters and that she disagrees with the plan to invite ICE agents to Maine's polls. That expressly rejects the use, and she stated no condition under which she would accept it, so condemns fits.
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The Dispute Index. "Collins says ICE at polling places "would intimidate a lot of legitimate American voters"". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2757-speaking-to-reporters-in-biddeford-maine-sen-susan