Top US General Assures No Troops Will Be Deployed to Polling Stations
Gen. Dan Caine confirms no federal troops or federalized Guard will be sent to polling places, easing Democratic concerns over election interference.
The highest-ranking officer in the US military has moved to allay fears that the armed forces could be used to influence November's midterm elections. In a letter to Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated unequivocally that the military has no plans to deploy personnel to polling stations.
Caine wrote that the Joint Force has no intention of sending federal troops or federalized National Guard members to voting sites during the 2026 elections. He also ruled out any military involvement in seizing ballots, voting machines, or other election materials. The general added that he has not received, nor does he anticipate receiving, any unlawful order concerning the military's role in the upcoming vote.
The assurance comes amid growing anxiety among Democrats that the Trump administration might attempt to interfere with the electoral process. Senator Slotkin had earlier voiced concerns that the president was laying groundwork to challenge the election results, pointing to past actions such as the contemplation of using the military to seize voting machines after the 2020 election and the deployment of National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities against local wishes.
Federal law already prohibits the use of armed federal forces at election locations except in cases of repelling armed enemies. Any military involvement would typically fall to the National Guard under state control. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has previously denied any plan to use the military to suppress voting.
While Caine responded to Slotkin's letter, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has yet to reply. Slotkin's office noted that a response was requested by last Thursday. The Pentagon has not commented on the status of Hegseth's reply, though it earlier indicated it would respond directly to the senator.
This is not the first time a Joint Chiefs chairman has addressed such concerns. In 2020, General Mark Milley, then chairman, assured Slotkin that the military would remain apolitical and that election disputes would be resolved by courts and Congress, not the armed forces.