1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

These are the beginnings of a most dangerous hour, one that history teaches us must be confronted early, plainly, and without illusion. When the instruments of government are openly discussed as tools of fear rather than guardians of liberty, silence becomes complicity. I write to urge you to take immediate, public, and enforceable action to protect voters in our state from intimidation and interference in the 2026 midterm elections. Recent statements by senior figures aligned with the Trump administration demand urgent attention. One prominent ally, Steve Bannon, has called for ICE to “surround the polls” in November under the guise of “election security.” These remarks followed a significant Republican special-election loss and renewed calls to “nationalize” elections that the Constitution clearly entrusts to the states. Such proposals strike at the foundation of republican self-government. The predictable consequence of armed or uniformed federal agents at polling places would be voter intimidation. Federal courts have long held that intimidation does not require violence or arrest; the presence alone is sufficient to deter lawful participation. This danger would fall most heavily upon naturalized citizens, mixed-status families, communities of color, and those whose past encounters with federal law enforcement have already taught them caution rather than trust. The rationale offered for these measures—that undocumented immigrants vote in meaningful numbers—is demonstrably false. Election officials and independent researchers have repeatedly shown noncitizen voting to be vanishingly rare. For generations, such falsehoods have been invoked after elections to excuse suppression rather than accept outcomes. Federal law already reflects the gravity of this threat. Armed personnel are prohibited at polling places except to repel armed enemies. Efforts to redefine civic participation or immigration as an “invasion” are transparent attempts to evade this safeguard. States must not wait for Election Day to discover whether these theories will be tested in practice. As a state official entrusted with preserving free and fair elections, you possess both the authority and the duty to act. Polling places must be affirmed as civilian spaces; election officials must receive clear guidance; voters must be assured safe access; and legal remedies must be prepared in advance to halt unlawful interference. Elections cannot be protected after fear has already done its work. History will judge whether this moment was met with resolve or with delay. I urge you to act now.