GOP blocks plan to prepare North Carolina counties for ballot seizures, ICE at polls

The Republican majority on the North Carolina State Board of Elections voted Wednesday to block a proposal that would have prepared local officials for scenarios involving federal agents at polling places and attempts to seize ballots — despite warnings from Democrats that such threats are no longer hypothetical.

The motion, introduced by Democratic board member Siobhan O’Duffy Millen, would have directed staff to develop guidance for counties on how to respond to situations such as ICE at polling sites or law enforcement efforts to seize ballots. 

The proposal failed by a 3–2 party-line vote, with all GOP members voting to block it.

“We’re seeing national voices, Mr. Homan, Mr. Blanche, mentioning the idea of sending ICE or CBP to the polls. We’ve seen ballot seizures in Fulton County and in Riverside, California. And it’s our job to protect the polls in North Carolina,” Millen said. “I think it’s better to prepare for a storm and the storm not to come versus we get here in early voting and we have a substantial amount of new directors, substantial amounts of new board members that are relying on us to give them the framework of how to address any issues that can pop up.”

Millen pointed to recent events in other states, including California where a sheriff seized over 650,000 ballots, as well as rhetoric from various Trump administration officials suggesting federal deployment in elections.

“I just think it’s better to be prepared. I think we’re in uncharted territory with these kinds of, I won’t call them threats, but suggestions of things that might happen. I know many people do not feel comfortable without substantial guidance and saying no when the federal government shows up,” Millen added. “And with ballot seizures happening, which I don’t ever remember in my lifetime. So I think we’re in uncharted territory.” 

Republicans on the board dismissed the need for such guidance, arguing existing laws provide election officials enough instructions and warning against overreacting to hypothetical scenarios. 

One GOP member, Stacy Eggers, cautioned that preparing for such situations could verge on “fear mongering.”

“I think we have to be careful of preparation merging on the edge of fear mongering,” he said. “I’m not sure if this is necessary to single out for special treatment as opposed to hurricanes, floods, fires, mobs, whatever it might be.”

Other GOP members echoed that view, arguing existing procedures already cover such scenarios.

“I believe we have those measures in place. That if things were to occur a little out of the ordinary that our poll workers, chief judges know what to do,” Angela Hawkins, another GOP board member, said. “They know to call in to the help desk or call the authorities if they need them or the county office and get the attorney over there. I just don’t think it’s needed to be so specific with certain instances. The list could go on and on and on.”

The vote comes amid growing national attention on the role federal agencies could play in elections.

Earlier this year, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said he “couldn’t understand why anyone would disagree with a president deploying federal agents to the polls,” while the Trump administration has declined to fully rule out the presence of immigration agents near voting locations.

An unprecedented move in California where county sheriff Chad Bianco seized hundreds of thousands of ballots under a court-approved warrant earlier this year left officials uncertain whether to comply with a warrant or follow state law requiring ballots to remain in their custody.

Millen argued that North Carolina should proactively prepare counties for similar scenarios, particularly as new election officials take office ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

But with Wednesday’s vote, the board declined to take that step, leaving counties without new statewide guidance on how to respond if federal agents or law enforcement attempt to intervene at polling places.