Bobby Charles proposes ICE presence at Maine polling places

Maine Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles has stated his intention to request that federal law enforcement, specifically U.S. Marshals and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, be stationed at polling places during the upcoming midterm elections.

In audio obtained by the Associated Press, Charles described White House border czar Tom Homan as a friend and indicated he would make an appeal to Homan to deploy agents to voting booths several weeks before Election Day. Charles stated the goal is to prevent violence, intimidation, and illegal voting, asserting that authorities should do everything legally possible to ensure only those entitled to vote participate.

Critics and Democratic officials have challenged the legality of the proposal. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows noted that federal law enforcement is generally prohibited from being at polls on Election Day unless responding to an attack. The Maine Democratic Party characterized the plan as an attempt to intimidate voters.

Separately, Tom Homan recently visited northern Maine to meet with border officials. During his trip, Homan indicated that enforcement actions regarding immigration would increase in the state, following a Supreme Court ruling regarding the status of certain immigrants.