Bobby Charles, the Republican nominee for Maine governor, stated during an August 20 event that he intends to ask Tom Homan, the White House border czar, to deploy U.S. Marshals and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling locations in the weeks preceding the midterm elections. According to audio obtained by The Associated Press, Charles told supporters he would make this request to prevent what he characterized as illegal voting, intimidation, and violence at polling places.
Charles later clarified his position by emphasizing that state and local election officials should maintain communication channels with federal authorities to address potential illegality at voting sites. He stated that all legally entitled voters should be able to cast ballots without intimidation while those ineligible to vote should not be permitted to do so. Charles, an attorney who previously served as U.S. assistant secretary of state under President George W. Bush, framed his proposal as ensuring election security.
Democratic officials and legal experts contested Charles’ proposal on both legal and practical grounds. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, stated that federal law prohibits ICE agents from being present at polling places and assured residents of a free and secure election. The Maine Democratic Party characterized the plan as likely illegal and described it as an intimidation tactic. Legal scholars noted that federal law prohibits military and federal agencies from deploying armed officers near polling sites.
The Department of Homeland Security stated it has no plans to send ICE agents to polling places. DHS officials previously told secretaries of state that suggestions ICE would be present at polling locations were “simply not true.” The proposal emerged amid broader Trump administration efforts to address voting by noncitizens, though experts note such voting is exceptionally rare and constitutes a felony offense. The timing of Charles’ comments coincided with ongoing concerns in Maine regarding an ICE officer’s involvement in an earlier incident during the summer.
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