The highest-ranking officer in the US military says there are no plans to send troops to polling places during November’s midterm congressional elections, addressing concerns among Democrats that the Trump administration could use the military to interfere with the vote.
Gen. Caine Responds to Troop Deployment Concerns
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, assured Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin in a letter that there are no plans to deploy troops to polling places. This statement follows Slotkin’s inquiry to both Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the potential military presence during elections.
Sonja Thrasher, Slotkin’s press secretary, said Hegseth has not replied to the letter asking him to confirm troops won’t be deployed to the polls in November. “Likewise, the Joint Force has no plans to use such personnel to seize ballots, voting machines, or other election-related material. Anxiety among Democrats that the Trump administration could try to meddle in the midterm elections has grown, particularly after the president deployed federal agents in Democratic-led states over the objections of local leaders. Slotkin had asked for a response by last Thursday. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to an email from the AP asking for the status of Hegseth’s response to Slotkin.
Caine, who advises Hegseth and President Donald Trump on military matters, also wrote: “I have neither received nor anticipate receiving any unlawful order concerning the role of the Joint Force in the upcoming November 2026 midterm elections.
“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 said in the letter to Slotkin, which was obtained Monday by The Associated Press. The Pentagon previously said it would respond directly to the senator.
