Maine Secretary of State Demands Written ICE Polling Ban

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and eight other secretaries of state sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary nominee Markwayne Mullin demanding written assurances that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will not be deployed to polling places during the 2026 election cycle. The officials cited constituent concerns that an armed federal law enforcement presence would lead to voter intimidation.

Bellows characterized the potential deployment of armed federal agents as illegal and a violation of the Constitution. She further alleged that the Trump administration previously attempted to interfere with elections by requesting protected voter rolls, calling the need for formal written assurances a "sad and frightening sign of the times."

Federal officials have previously denied any plans for such deployments. Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elections Integrity Heather Honey both stated publicly that ICE officers would not be present at polling locations. Despite these public statements, the group of secretaries of state continues to seek formal documentation to prevent any unlawful interference with states' rights to administer elections.