Caine also rules out military seizure of ballots, voting equipment
WASHINGTON — Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin in a letter that the U.S. military has no plans to send federal troops or federalized National Guard members to polling places during the November midterm elections. The letter, obtained Monday by The Associated Press, also stated the Joint Force has no plans to use such personnel to seize ballots, voting machines, or other election-related material.
The exchange comes amid concerns among Democrats that the Trump administration could use the military to interfere with the November vote. Slotkin had recently asked Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to confirm that troops would not be deployed to the polls.
“The Joint Force has no plans to send Federal military personnel or Federalized members of the National Guard to polling places during the 2026 elections,” Caine wrote in the letter. “Likewise, the Joint Force has no plans to use such personnel to seize ballots, voting machines, or other election-related material.”
Caine is the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. military. The letter addresses military deployments specifically and does not extend to other federal agencies. Slotkin had also named Hegseth, the defense secretary, in her request.