DC Board of Elections requests National Guard stay away from ballot drop boxes

The District of Columbia Board of Elections has formally requested that National Guard members limit their presence near ballot drop boxes and other voting locations. This request follows reports and photographs showing service members standing near a ballot drop box in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood.

While the specific reason for the troops' presence near the drop box remains unclear, the appearance prompted concerns regarding federal law, which prohibits troops or armed federal law enforcement from being present at polling places. The Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC), which is coordinating a deployment involving nearly 3,000 troops from the district and 18 other states and territories, stated that troops are directed not to monitor or secure polling locations and is currently addressing the incident.