US military has no plans to send troops to the polls in November, top general says
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Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday that the U.S. military has no plans to deploy federal troops or federalized National Guard personnel to polling places during the November 2026 midterm elections. In a letter to Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Caine also said the Joint Force has no plans to seize ballots, voting machines or other election materials and that he has neither received nor expects an unlawful order concerning the elections. Slotkin had asked Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for assurances after raising concerns about military involvement in voting. Hegseth had not responded by the deadline, according to Slotkin’s office and the Associated Press. Federal law bars troops or armed personnel from election sites except when necessary to repel armed enemies. The statement does not prohibit state-controlled National Guard activity. Caine’s assurance comes as scrutiny of election-related military involvement intensifies before November vote.
Timeline
- On November 3, 2020, Gen. Milley reaffirmed military political neutrality.
- On April 2026, Hegseth called ballot-seizure questions a gotcha hypothetical.
- On June 18, 2026, Slotkin introduced legislation restricting federal deployments.
- On August 18, 2026, Slotkin asked Caine and Hegseth for assurances.
- On August 31, 2026, Caine said troops have no polling plans.
- On September 1, 2026, Pentagon still had not answered Slotkin publicly.
- On September 2026, Congress may seek additional military-election assurances again.
- On October 2026, agencies will finalize election security preparations nationwide.
- On November 3, 2026, Americans will vote in midterm elections.
- On November 4, authorities will address election disputes through law.
- On January 2027, Congress may review military-election safeguards after results.
Sources
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