Slotkin says an ICE presence around polls would intimidate voters

Elissa SlotkinU.S. senator from Michigan

Condemned

Slotkin argues that visibly surrounding polls with masked ICE agents could deter voting even if agents never handle ballots or voting machines.

“100% that’s intimidating”

Official statement

Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)NOTUS interviews senators and Lepper about election deploymentsSlotkin quotation after the tabletop-exercise discussion; Schmitt's response to NOTUS; Final two paragraphs, Former Judge Advocates General Working Group

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A voter uses a blue voting booth at the Denver Central Library.
Credit: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images via NPR

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.

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Source and context

Official statement

NOTUS interviews senators and Lepper about election deployments (opens in a new tab)Slotkin quotation after the tabletop-exercise discussion; Schmitt's response to NOTUS; Final two paragraphs, Former Judge Advocates General Working Group

About this source

The issuing person or organization explains its position and the actions it took.

Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Before the quotation

Slotkin described a scenario involving masked ICE agents surrounding voting sites.

After the quotation

NOTUS reported her comments on August 13; the interview date was not specified.

How this statement is classified

Condemned

The label describes this statement's response within the context above.

Why this label?

She rejects the prospective deployment as voter intimidation.

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Publisher
The Dispute Index
Title
Slotkin says an ICE presence around polls would intimidate voters
First published
Last updated
Permalink
https://disputeindex.com/events/4349-slotkin-argues-that-visibly-surrounding-polls-with-masked

Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.

The Dispute Index. "Slotkin says an ICE presence around polls would intimidate voters". First published: 2026-10-01. Last updated: 2026-10-01. https://disputeindex.com/events/4349-slotkin-argues-that-visibly-surrounding-polls-with-masked