Key facts
- At least seven US states confirmed National Guard involvement in activities tied to the November 3 midterm elections, The Hill reported.
- Washington state planned to use around 100 Guard members in civilian clothing to monitor ballot drop boxes in seven counties.
- Iowa, Colorado and North Carolina deployed Guardsmen primarily to protect election cyber infrastructure.
- Alabama and Oklahoma Guard specialists were involved in October after suspicious white powder packages reached election offices.
- A German Marshall Fund poll of 2,800 Americans found 59% said the president should not use federal troops to oversee elections.
At least seven US states publicly confirmed that National Guard units would take part in activities related to the November 3 midterm elections, The Hill reported. In Washington state, service members in civilian clothing were to help monitor ballot drop boxes in seven counties. In Iowa, Colorado and North Carolina, Guardsmen were deployed primarily to protect election cyber infrastructure.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson offered counties the Election Neighborhood Watch program. Seven counties accepted, and around 100 National Guard service members were expected to be involved. Ferguson cited the need for precautionary measures, an arson attack on a ballot drop box in Vancouver in 2024 that damaged several hundred ballots, and reports of letters containing white powder sent to the secretary of state's office and several congressional offices.
In North Carolina, the National Guard's Joint Cybersecurity Task Force was to monitor election networks with the state Emergency Operations Center. Colorado Governor Jared Polis ordered the National Guard to assist with election cyber protection in June. In Iowa, Guardsmen were to work with Secretary of State Paul Pate and state authorities to identify potential cyber threats.
Alabama and Oklahoma National Guard specialists were already involved in October after suspicious packages containing white powder were sent to the Alabama secretary of state's office and the Oklahoma State Election Board. Possible involvement of the Arizona National Guard was reported, but the state office did not specify its format.
A Democracy and Security Network poll by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, involving 2,800 Americans, found that 59% of respondents believed the president should not use federal troops to oversee or administer elections. Researcher Lauren Voss said military personnel near polling stations could heighten concerns about federal interference. Federal law generally does not allow armed personnel at election sites except where a polling station is attacked and federal forces are necessary. State governors involved the National Guard in cyber protection and local support in at least 14 states in 2022 and 15 states in 2024, the report said.