Plainclothes National Guard Deployed to Monitor Ballot Boxes Sparks Controversy in U.S.

Ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, National Guard troops have been deployed to support election operations in at least seven states, sparking controversy that they may intimidate voters.

According to U.S. congressional media outlet The Hill on the 2nd (local time), plainclothes National Guard troops in Washington state are assisting in monitoring ballot boxes across seven counties.

The total mobilized force is around 100 personnel.

Outside of Washington state, the role of the National Guard is largely focused on cybersecurity.

In Iowa, National Guard troops are monitoring and defending election-related networks, while Colorado and North Carolina are also receiving support to respond to cyberattacks on election systems.

The National Guard units in Alabama and Oklahoma responded to incidents last month where suspicious packages containing white powder were delivered to local election authorities.

Arizona is also reportedly deploying the National Guard to support the midterm elections.

State governments maintain that this is routine support to protect election infrastructure.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson stated, "We are taking every possible precaution to protect the voting system."

National Guard support for elections is not unprecedented.

In 2022, at least 14 states utilized the National Guard for election support, and that number increased to 15 states in 2024.

However, in this year's midterm elections, military personnel are even tasked with monitoring ballot boxes, leading to criticism that it could intimidate voters.

Federal law generally prohibits the deployment of armed personnel to polling places where elections are taking place.

Exceptions are only recognized when polling stations come under attack and armed federal intervention is necessary.

Democratic lawmakers are concerned that the Donald Trump administration could use military or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel to intimidate voters and election workers or interfere with election results.

In fact, in an interview with The New York Times in January of this year, President Trump mentioned that he regretted not ordering the National Guard to seize voting machines in swing states after losing the 2020 presidential election.

According to a survey of 2,800 Americans conducted by the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund, a U.S. think tank, 59% of respondents answered that the president should not use federal troops to monitor elections.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that it has no plans to deploy ICE agents to patrol polling places in this midterm election.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine also drew a line, stating that there are no plans to deploy military personnel during the midterms.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.