Rep. Mike Collins on federal troops at polling places
U.S. Representative from Georgia and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate
“The last thing we want is for people to not have confidence in their elections and not show up. So … if that's something that they decide that they need to look at, then that's fine with me”
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Post by journalist Aaron Rupar with a video clip of about 35 seconds from a Fox broadcast in which Rep. Mike Collins answers a question about federal troops at sites in some precinct areas at an event with Sen. John Thune. The quotation here is our transcription of the video audio.
Reporting
About this source
Democracy Docket report on remarks Rep. Mike Collins made on Sunday, September 27, 2026, answering a journalist's question about federal troops at polling places. It quotes his answer. The article's printed quotation differs slightly from the audio in the video.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Democracy Docket wrote that the Trump administration has floated the possibility of sending federal troops to voting sites for months. In a video of the exchange at a campaign event with Sen. John Thune, the questioner noted that early voting starts October 13 and asked about the idea, which the questioner said some in the administration have floated, of federal troops at sites in some precinct areas. Collins first said he has always been a firm believer in local elections, then gave the answer quoted here.
After the quotation
The report says Collins, who has President Donald Trump's endorsement, is challenging Sen. Jon Ossoff in this year's midterm election.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Should ICE and other armed federal agents be allowed at or near polling places in the 2026 election?
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case asks whether ICE and other armed federal agents should be allowed at or near polling places, and records responses to the administration's stated or threatened use of them. Collins was asked about federal troops at sites in some precinct areas rather than about ICE, and we recorded the answer because it addresses armed federal personnel at voting sites. He said that if the administration decides it needs to look at the idea, that is fine with him, so we labeled it Defended or excused.
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- Published here
Should ICE and other armed federal agents be allowed at or near polling places in the 2026 election?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“We are taking strong, joint legal action to block Donald Trump’s threats to deploy federal agents, including ICE and FBI agents, to polling places this November. … Federal law explicitly forbids voter intimidation and stationing armed federal agents at polling places.”Read statement
“There is no reason for masked, armed agents to be at polling places like churches, schools, and libraries other than to intimidate eligible voters from making their voices heard. My bill will stop the President from sending armed troops to our local polling places and make sure you can access the ballot box and have your voice heard.”Read statement
United States Department of Justice
“The DOJ has never said it would send federal law enforcement to polling locations. Any suggestion otherwise is fearmongering.”Read statement