Nevada voter rights groups expand poll watching efforts amid concerns over federal interference

Monday, Oct. 12, 2026 | 2 a.m.

Editor's note: Este articulo esta traducido al espanol.

On a symbolic Election Day, Silver State Voices deploys canvass watchers to a growing fraction of polling sites in Clark and Washoe counties. The organization intends to station observers at every one of the 177 locations this year. “We cognize that determination is existent interest and fearfulness astir being capable to enactment successful this election,” said Emily Persaud-Zamora, enforcement manager of Silver State Voices. Founded in 2012, Silver State Voices administers a nonpartisan election protection program and participates in the Election Protection coalition, which operates the 866‑OUR‑VOTE hotline. Its mission centers on safeguarding and expanding civic access, including voter registration assistance, education, and turnout efforts. This effort marks the group’s most extensive election protection initiative to date. “We privation to guarantee we are astatine each polling determination truthful that if a elector comes and they’re feeling uneasy for immoderate reason, we tin speech to them,” Persaud-Zamora said. The expansion follows a May interview in which PBS correspondent Liz Landers questioned President Donald Trump about whether he would deploy the National Guard or Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling places nationwide. Trump responded that he would “do whatever necessary to make sure we have honest elections.” FBI Director Kash Patel faced questioning on Sept. 15 during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing regarding whether he would commit to keeping agents away from the polls. Patel declined to rule it out, stating “the FBI will follow the law. If there’s a reason to go there because there’s been a violation of law, we will.” In July, the Justice Department warned election officials that they could face prosecution if they knowingly permit noncitizens to vote. On Sept. 18 the NAACP led a coalition that filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington seeking to keep armed federal agents away from polling sites during the November midterm elections. The suit names the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, the Justice Department, and the FBI as defendants and asks the court to block the government “from deploying agents in a manner that unlawfully intimidates voters or anyone urging or aiding voters.” “This election has the most significant possible threats to ideology that have been out there in quite a long time,” said Athar Haseebullah, enforcement manager of the Nevada ACLU. “It’s really kind of an unprecedented time because of the instability and chaos that the federal government is continuing to create.” Federal law largely bars troops and other armed personnel from polling places, and the Trump administration has said it has “no plans” to send ICE agents to the polls. Nonetheless, Nevada’s secretary of state, the ACLU, and the Election Protection coalition are preparing for the possibility. “I don’t put anything beyond ICE in terms of the lawless behaviour in which they engage in,” Haseebullah said. “ICE agents at polling locations, Haseebullah said, would output ‘huge amounts of imaginable elector suppression.’” He noted this is the first election cycle in which he can recall the threat of federal interference in elections being so broadly amplified. He also expressed concern about misinformation and disinformation claiming ICE agents are present at voting sites when they are not. “Without observers on the ground, there is no way to counteract that action in existent time,” Haseebullah said. Silver State Voices is conducting training sessions this month to teach volunteers best practices and what to monitor at the polls. Observers note everything from incorrectly placed signs to law enforcement activity at a polling location, after which Silver State Voices determines an appropriate response. Representatives stressed that observers will be present to help voters feel safe, but Persaud‑Zamora advised voters not to wait until Election Day and to cast their ballots as soon as possible given the uncertainty. “It’s best that voters cast their ballot as soon as possible,” she said. “There’s a lot of uncertainty overall in the election cycle, considering the federal administration, USPS, what have you,” Persaud‑Zamora said. “Our overall message to voters is this is a critical election, do not stay home.” Should ICE agents appear at a polling location, Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar said his office has legal pleadings ready to act. The Election Protection coalition will also have lawyers on standby. “It won’t be a legal result that matters here,” Haseebullah said. “It’s a legal result combined with the power of the people. Combined with the courage of people who have been silent on a variety of different issues willing to step up.” Volunteer observers may monitor early voting and Election Day voting after completing the required forms. They are prohibited from taking photos or video, speaking to voters, or interfering with the election. Training sign‑ups are available at https://866ourvote.org/volunteer. “It’s a great opportunity for people who are anxious about the state of voting rights and the state of democracy to do something about it,” Haseebullah said. Read the full story at Las Vegas Sun →