Image of armed National Guard surrounding ballot drop box triggers concern in DC – NBC4 Washington

Image of armed National Guard surrounding ballot drop box triggers concern in DC  NBC4 Washington

Image shows three guardsmen around a ballot drop off box in Foggy Bottom. A photo of armed National Guard troops surrounding a D.C. ballot drop box triggered concern at the highest levels of D.C. government Friday. News4’s Jackie Bensen reports A photo of armed National Guard troops surrounding a D.C. ballot drop box triggered concern at the highest levels of D.C. government Friday. In the image, three National Guard members stand near what News4 verified is the election ballot drop box outside the GW-Foggy Bottom Metro station. One member stands directly in front of the drop slot. An X post from the D.C. Council reads “This is clearly not acceptable” above a photo of the three guardsmen.

Federal law states it is illegal to station “any troops or armed men at any place where a general or special election is held, unless such force be necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States.” Some legal experts argue the law — enacted in 1865 and codified in 1948 — should apply not only to traditional polling places but also to drop boxes. “We are addressing the concerns with the National Guard directly and have requested that they impose limitations on the placement of National Guard service members near drop boxes and other voting locations in the District,” the D.C. Board