US election officials brace for violence and intimidation at polling booths

Local US election officials are bracing for the possibility of violence and intimidation when Americans turn up to vote at the midterm elections.

The Trump administration has not ruled out deploying armed law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, to polling booths.

Pro-democracy advocates fear Donald Trump will reject the midterm election results if the Democrats win control of Congress.

Local election officials at the United States's crucial midterm elections are preparing to confront armed federal agents if they are deployed to polling booths by the Trump administration.

In the US state of Colorado, Denver chief election official Paul López said voters were concerned by the threat of federal agents showing up at the polls, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

"They're authoritarian tactics," López told Four Corners.

"It is absolutely illegal per US federal law for any federal agent, for any troop or anybody trying to intimidate voters at the polls.

"And it's my expectation if somebody violates that and refuses that order, that they be arrested."

With US President Donald Trump's approval rating at a record low, and polls suggesting the Democrats will win the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate, some fear he may meddle in the midterms or even reject the results.

One leading US civil society group told Four Corners they were prepared to rush to court if Trump tried to interfere.

"For the first time in modern history, the greatest threat of election interference is coming from the federal government itself," says Justin Vail from the non-profit group Protect Democracy.

"We have seen this administration, the president and his enablers' willingness to incite violence.

"We're working with local election officials and law enforcement to prepare for [it]."

When asked in May about the prospect of federal agents being deployed for the midterms, Trump said he would do anything necessary to ensure "honest" elections.

The president's Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, said in September that ICE officers could be deployed across the country.

"ICE isn't there to patrol the polling places," he said.

"We're there to enforce specific threats."

At a fiery congressional hearing in September, FBI director Kash Patel refused to rule out the deployment of FBI agents at the polls.

In Denver, López is taking the threat seriously.

He's part of a coalition that has filed a lawsuit aimed at blocking federal officers from turning up at the polls.

"It's against federal law and it's punishable by prison time," López said.

Denver officials have also been conducting training with election workers to prepare them for polling day scenarios, including possible intimidation and meddling in the vote.

"We feel prepared … [for] anybody showing up at the polls that tries to intimidate somebody, federal agent or otherwise," López said.

Luke Ball is a Republican strategist who worked on Trump's successful 2024 re-election campaign.

He said he had no problem with federal law enforcement officers appearing at polling places.

"I think it's fine to have law enforcement at a polling place, especially if they're helping maintain law and order and helping deter illegal voting," Ball said.

"These men and women who are involved in law enforcement and ICE are great Americans. They love their country.

"These are not boogeymen who are here to oppress the vote."

The Trump administration has also been attempting to collect states' unredacted voter rolls to try to identify what it calls "non-citizen voting".

Non-citizens have never been allowed to vote in US federal elections, and there is no evidence non-citizens have swayed an election outcome.

Officials in about 30 states have refused to hand over unredacted voter information, arguing it is illegal and a violation of privacy.

Protect Democracy has successfully filed and supported lawsuits against the Trump administration, including its attempts to obtain state voters roles, Vail said.

"They're trying to deceive the American voters about the integrity of our elections," he said.

"The courts have been clear that this is … a federal government intrusion into state powers and a violation of Americans' right to privacy.

"The courts have also struck down the president's unlawful executive order seeking to limit voting by mail."

Protect Democracy is part of a coalition of civil society groups that has been wargaming threats to the elections and how to respond.

That includes the possibility Trump will deny the election results and try to pressure election officials and Congress into refusing to certify legitimate winners.

Vail also said the group was worried about voter intimidation, false national emergencies aimed at disrupting or delaying voting, and efforts to seize ballots or voting machines.

Protect Democracy has analysed nearly 10,000 jurisdictions across the US to try to identify the most at-risk areas on election day.

Vail said the group was prepared to "go to court immediately" in a range of scenarios.

"Unfortunately, we need to be prepared for any scenario, including the prospect of violence," he said.

Watch Four Corners: Endgame on Monday, November 2 at 8:30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.