Sen. Kelly on sending troops or armed agents to polling places, as the Protect Our Polls Act is introduced
Mark KellyU.S. senator from Arizona and co-sponsor of the Protect Our Polls Act
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a co-sponsor of the Protect Our Polls Act, said the idea that a president would send troops or armed agents to polling places to intimidate voters is un-American and illegal. He said President Trump has made clear he thinks he can ignore the limits federal law sets.
“The idea that a president would send troops or armed agents to polling places to intimidate voters is un-American and illegal Federal law has protected polling places from military interference since the Civil War for a reason. President Trump has made clear he thinks he can ignore those limits. We’re making sure he can’t.”
Official statement
Official statement
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
Official statement
About this source
Sen. Elissa Slotkin's press release announcing the Protect Our Polls Act, which she introduced with seven Democratic senators. It summarizes the bill and quotes each co-sponsor.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Official statement
About this source
Sen. Alex Padilla's press release announcing the Protect Our Polls Act, which eight Democratic senators introduced. It summarizes the bill, quotes the co-sponsors and includes a transcript of Padilla's remarks.
Before the quotation
Sen. Elissa Slotkin's office said the Protect Our Polls Act, introduced on June 18, 2026 with seven Democratic co-sponsors, would further restrict the deployment of military forces and armed federal agents to polling places. It would require Congress to pass a joint resolution of approval before the president could send troops or federal law enforcement to election sites under the one exception to the existing ban.
After the quotation
The release says Slotkin has repeatedly asked Trump administration nominees about sending troops to polling places and that she questioned Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin about sending ICE to the polls.
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. Kelly said the idea that a president would send troops or armed agents to polling places to intimidate voters is un-American and illegal, and that President Trump has made clear he thinks he can ignore the legal limits. That expressly rejects the stated or threatened use, so we labeled it Condemned.
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The Dispute Index. "Sen. Kelly on sending troops or armed agents to polling places, as the Protect Our Polls Act is introduced". First published: 2026-09-29. Last updated: 2026-09-29. https://disputeindex.com/events/3334-sen-mark-kelly-d-ariz-a-co-sponsor