A Republican candidate for governor in Maine has proposed having ICE agents present at polling stations during the November 3 general election. According to candidate Bobby Charles, this presence could help prevent incidents of violence during voting and in the days leading up to it.
According to an audio recording obtained by the Bangor Daily News, Bobby Charles plans to ask White House border coordinator Tom Homan three to four weeks before the election to deploy ICE agents and federal marshals to polling places. The candidate claims these measures would prevent non-U.S. citizens from voting and ensure that all eligible voters can cast their ballots without outside pressure.
Political context and official reaction
Bobby Charles is an attorney with experience in the federal administration, having served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs during the George W. Bush presidency. He secured the Republican Party nomination in June after winning the primary. In the November general election, Charles will face Democratic Party candidate Chellie Pingree. Incumbent Democratic Governor Janet Mills is ineligible to run for another term due to constitutional term limits.
Maine Secretary of State, Democrat Shenna Bellows, rejected the proposal. According to the AP, she stated that current federal law prohibits the presence of armed individuals or immigration agents at polling places. The state Democratic Party called the initiative an attempt at “voter intimidation,” stating that it violates election law and lacks constitutional grounds.
Representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also ruled out the possibility of planned personnel deployment at polling stations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection officials told Congress that their agencies do not have a role in securing polling places.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin clarified that officers could only be involved in the event of a specific threat to public safety. He ruled out conducting routine immigration enforcement operations near voting locations.
Source: La Nación
