06/24/2026
A group of Senate Democrats is pushing to make one thing unmistakable: polling places should remain civilian spaces.
Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan has introduced the Protect Our Polls Act, a bill that would prevent a president from deploying troops or federal agents to voting locations without approval from Congress. The measure is backed by Senators Ruben Gallego, Mark Kelly, Jacky Rosen, Raphael Warnock, and Tammy Baldwin.
The military is already restricted from appearing at polling places under the Posse Comitatus Act. But the law includes a rarely discussed exception that allows the president to use troops “to repel armed enemies of the United States.” That power has never been used at the polls, even during major national crises such as World War II or the aftermath of September 11. Slotkin’s proposal would close that gap by requiring Congressional authorization first.
The bill currently has no Republican support. In June 2026, Republican senators on the Armed Services Committee also blocked similar Democratic efforts.
It has not become law and still faces a long path through Congress. Still, the political signal is strong: these Democrats want election sites kept off-limits to military involvement.