The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, has formally stated that the United States military has no plans to deploy personnel to polling locations for the upcoming November 3 elections. The assurance comes in response to growing concerns from Democratic lawmakers about potential interference in the electoral process.

In a letter addressed to Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, obtained by The Associated Press, General Caine explicitly stated, "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." He further clarified that there are also no intentions to "use such personnel to seize ballots, voting machines, or other election-related material."

Senator Slotkin had previously requested confirmation from both General Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the military's role in the elections. The letter from Caine, who serves as a key military advisor to both Hegseth and President Donald Trump, also conveyed that he has "neither received nor anticipate receiving any unlawful order concerning the role of the Joint Force in the upcoming November 2026 midterm elections."

These assurances arrive amidst heightened anxiety among Democrats, who fear the Trump administration might attempt to undermine the integrity of the midterm elections. Their concerns are fueled by President Trump's past actions, including the deployment of federal agents to Democratic-led states over local objections, ostensibly for immigration enforcement and to address crime and protests.

Senator Slotkin has voiced that President Trump has been preparing to contest the election results, citing his past contemplation of using the military to seize voting machines after the 2020 presidential election. She also pointed to the deployment of the National Guard to various cities and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles, actions that occurred against the wishes of Democratic leadership.

Federal law strictly prohibits the deployment of armed federal forces to election sites, with the exception being situations where it is "necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States." Any involvement of military personnel in election security typically falls under the purview of the National Guard, operating under state authority.

"The nonpartisan tradition of military service and the constitutional guardrails that prevent our military from becoming a domestic police force for one political party are essential to maintaining our democracy," Senator Slotkin stated in a press release, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the military's apolitical standing.

This clarification from the highest-ranking military officer aims to quell fears that the armed forces could be weaponized for political purposes, reinforcing the established legal and traditional boundaries that separate the military from domestic law enforcement and electoral oversight.