Arlington sues federal agencies over armed officers at polling places
The county argues federal guidelines violate a 150-year-old law banning armed personnel in voting precincts.
By Isaac Medina ·
Arlington County officials filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice on October 29. The suit seeks to stop federal guidelines that allow armed agents to deploy at polling centers during the upcoming midterm elections.
The county claims the measures threaten voter safety and interfere with the electoral process. Specifically, the filing targets the potential presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation at local voting sites.
Plaintiffs assert that the new directives violate federal legislation enacted more than 150 years ago. That law explicitly prohibits armed personnel from being present in election precincts. The county argues that recent statements by federal officials have created fear among citizens.
Local administrators have had to allocate budget resources to draft emergency protocols. These funds were directed toward coordinating responses between local police departments and prosecutors. The county contends that the federal actions exceed executive authority and infringe on state powers to organize elections.
The complaint asks a court to invalidate the policies. Legal representatives for the county stated that a free exercise of voting without federal police presence is necessary for transparency. They emphasized the need to protect both early voting centers and polling stations on election day.
