New Mexico enacts law prohibiting the deployment of troops to polling places
On March 9, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed legislation prohibiting a person from bringing or ordering military troops or armed federal agents to a polling place or ballot drop box location.
Federal law prohibits the deployment of troops or United States servicemembers to a polling place “unless such force be necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States.”
New Mexico SB 264 creates state-level penalties for those who deploy troops or armed federal agents to a polling place or drop box site. It also prohibits a person from interfering with the conduct of an election or from interfering with an election official, voter, challenger, or watcher while they are discharging their duties.
In addition, the bill prohibits a person from attempting to impose a law, rule, or change to voter qualifications that goes against New Mexico law. And it allows the attorney general, secretary of state, a county clerk, or a voter who experienced intimidation or was not able to vote due to a disruption at a polling place to bring a civil action to enforce the law’s provisions.
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/03/13/new-mexico-enacts-law-prohibiting-the-deployment-of-troops-to-polling-places/