Preparing for federal agents or ICE at a polling place
Preparing for federal agents or ICE at a polling place
This guide helps election offices prepare and train election workers to respond if federal agents, including ICE, enter a polling place.
It includes guidance for:
- Preparing a response plan
- Training election workers
- Using scripts to respond calmly and clearly
- Keeping records of an incident
- Creating an incident kit for voting locations
The goal is to help workers keep voters, election workers, and election materials safe while allowing voting to continue.
The guide also includes information about who is allowed in a voting location under federal, state, and local laws and rules.
Preparing for federal agents or ICE at a polling place
The guide includes:
- Who is allowed in a voting location
- Preparing a response plan
- Training election workers
- Scripts for election workers
- Keeping good records of what happened
- An incident report form
- Materials for an incident kit
- More emergency response resources
Download the guide as a Microsoft Word document (.docx)
Download guide (PDF)
Training presentation template – Preparing for federal agents or ICE at a polling place
Use this customizable presentation to train poll workers on how to prepare for federal agents or ICE at a polling place.
Download training presentation template (.pptx)
Polling place controlled evacuation checklist template
Use this checklist as a template for use during a controlled and temporary evacuation of a polling place. Laws, processes and equipment vary across states and jurisdictions. Adjust specific elements to match your jurisdiction’s needs.
This resource was developed in partnership with The Election Group (TEG)
Download the checklist templateMore emergency response resources
Public Rights Project
Midterm Election 2026: Operational and Legal Considerations for Election Officials and Their Attorneys Regarding the Deployment of ICE, CBP, National Guard, and Federal Troops to Election Sites
WhenSomethingHappens.org
Center for Civic Design
Scripts for poll workers
Center for Civic Design/When Something Happens
State Election Law Interference Handbooks
The Brennan Center
First Things First: Poll Worker Safety
Election Security Exchange
Communicating during an election incident
Election Security Exchange
Four Steps to Working with Challenging Visitors
Committee for Safe and Secure Elections
De-escalation posters and pocket guides
The Elections Group
Planning for the election home stretch
Center for Civic Design
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