<p>Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine stated that the Trump administration will not deploy military personnel to monitor the midterm elections scheduled for November 2026. This announcement came in response to a request from Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) regarding the administration's stance on military involvement at polling sites.</p>
<p>Caine emphasized in a letter to Slotkin that election administration and security are the responsibilities of state and local officials. He noted, "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. Likewise, the Joint Force has no plans to use such personnel to seize ballots, voting machines, or other election-related material." He also mentioned, "I have neither received nor anticipate receiving any unlawful order concerning the role of the Joint Force in the upcoming November 2026 midterm elections." Caine expressed his willingness to discuss the matter further with Slotkin or other Senators.</p>
<p>This letter is part of ongoing efforts by administration officials to address concerns raised by some Democrats about the potential for military or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) involvement in the elections. The Department of Homeland Security previously stated that ICE would not conduct operations at polling locations. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also dismissed the idea that President Donald Trump could use the military to interfere with voting, calling it "categorically false." </p>
<p>The discussion around military involvement in elections gained traction after former Trump adviser Steve Bannon suggested sending ICE to polling sites. Additionally, Trump's comments in February about "nationalizing" elections raised concerns, although he later clarified that he did not intend to use that term. Trump has been vocal about election integrity, claiming that the 2020 election was rigged against him and advocating for legislation requiring photo ID for voters through the SAVE America Act.</p>
<p>In July, Trump delivered a speech outlining his concerns about vulnerabilities in U.S. election systems, citing potential foreign interference from countries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.</p>