Maine GOP gubernatorial candidate proposes ICE presence at polling stations
Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles said he would ask Homeland Security officials to deploy ICE and U.S. Marshals to Maine voting sites before the midterm election.
During an August 20 event in Arundel, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles told supporters he would appeal to Tom Homan, the White House border czar, to station ICE officers and U.S. Marshals at Maine polling places in the weeks leading up to the midterms. Charles said the goal was to prevent violence, intimidation, and illegal voting, emphasizing that only eligible voters should cast ballots. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows responded that federal immigration agents are barred from poll sites and assured a free, secure election.
The Maine Democratic Party labeled the plan as likely illegal and an attempt to intimidate voters, while DHS officials reiterated they have no current plans for such deployments. The proposal arrives amid ongoing national debate over non-citizen voting and heightened election-security rhetoric from President Donald Trump.
Why it matters
The proposal could reshape election security practices and spark legal battles over federal involvement in state voting processes.
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