NO GUNS, NO ICE, NO MILITARY AT THE POLLS

As the November midterm elections approach, the potential presence of guns, military troops, and armed federal agents at polling places — including ICE — poses a very real and grave threat to our human rights and safety.

Federal law already prohibits sending armed federal forces to polling places, except in the extraordinary circumstance of repelling armed enemies. But public statements by President Trump and administration officials are raising concerns about their potential presence. Even the suggestion that federal enforcement could be present at the polls can have a chilling effect on eligible voters, particularly in immigrant communities.

Meanwhile, many states lack comprehensive protections against firearms at or near polling places. Our state leaders have the power to protect voters and election workers.

Tell your mayor and governor: Keep guns, National Guard, ICE, and other armed agents away from our polling places!

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Hello,

I am writing as your constituent and a member of Amnesty International USA to ask you to ensure that every eligible voter in the state of {user_data~State} can participate in the November midterm elections safely and free from intimidation, discrimination, and violence.

The presence of guns, troops, or armed federal agents – including immigration enforcement and National Guard agents – at or near polling places in the U.S. poses a serious threat to the right to vote and participate in political processes. The widespread presence of guns at polling places, or armed groups seeking to intimidate voters, is also a threat to this right, in addition to being a threat to the rights to life, health, and security.

Federal law already prohibits certain federal troops and armed personnel from being deployed at polling places, except when necessary to repel armed enemies of the U.S. Yet President Trump and senior Trump administration officials have continued to leave open the possibility of military troops or federal agents being present at or near polling places this fall. Although DHS has said that ICE is not planning operations targeting polling locations, other administration officials have declined to rule out the presence of federal agents at the polls.

The normalization of armed federal agents in public spaces and racial profiling of communities of color – citizens and non-citizens alike – makes this threat particularly concerning. When voting is repeatedly linked to immigration or criminal enforcement and false claims about non-citizen voting and voter fraud, eligible voters – especially people in immigrant and mixed-status communities and communities of color – may reasonably fear that even appearing at a polling place or helping others exercise their right to vote could expose them or their families to immigration scrutiny, enforcement, or other harm.

The risk of political violence and intimidation at or around polling places, ballot drop boxes, and election offices has also grown in recent years. Election workers have faced escalating threats since 2020, and the presence of firearms can act as a force multiplier for violence.

As a state leader, you have the power to help ensure that voters can exercise their rights without fear.

I urge you to:
- Prohibit firearms at and around polling places and other locations across the state where voters are casting their ballots.
- Guarantee that no military troops, National Guard, armed federal personnel, including immigration enforcement agents, are deployed at or near polling places.
- Take every action within your authority to protect voters and election workers from intimidation, threats, and violence throughout the election period.

New Mexico has already enacted state protections against the deployment of troops or armed federal personnel at polling locations, demonstrating that states can take action to safeguard voters and election workers.

Every eligible voter should be able to enter a polling place without fear of being confronted by a gun or an armed federal agent. I urge you to act now to ensure that our elections remain safe, accessible, and free from intimidation.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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