Joint Chiefs chair says no troops at polling places in November's midterms

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine wrote that the military has no plans to send federal troops or federalized National Guard members to polling places for the 2026 midterms. He said there are also no plans to use troops to seize ballots, voting machines or other election material. Caine advises the president; federal law says his job carries no command authority, so the letter states a plan rather than a guarantee. Federal law already bars troops from election sites unless they are needed to repel armed enemies of the United States. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, asked the same questions, had not answered by Sen. Elissa Slotkin's Aug. 28 deadline.