St. Petersburg, FL - Protections for Elections

Armed federal agents at your polling place
are already illegal. Your city council can enforce it.

18 U.S.C. § 592 — Federal Law Since 1865

Any federal employee who stations armed personnel at a polling place commits a felony. No exceptions — not for law enforcement, not for "keeping the peace." The DOJ's own manual bans FBI agents from polling places.

5 YEARS PRISON $250,000 FINE PERMANENT BAR FROM OFFICE

Why St. Petersburg?

Legal Authority

Florida possesses the strongest municipal home rule framework of any target state.

Why It Can Work Here

Mayor Ken Welch (D, first Black mayor, elected 2021) leads a progressive city council.

What the Ordinance Would Do
Critical language adjustments from the Madison model: frame as local resource allocation (not election regulation), explicitly reference 18 U.S.C.

Your City Council

8 members · Mayor + 8 council members (all district-elected)
Mayor Kenneth T. Welch (sworn in Jan 2022).

St. Petersburg City Hall
175 5th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

(727) 893-7117
stpete.org/government/city_council

Meetings

Thu

9:00 AM

1st & 3rd Thu

What You Can Do

Call your council member and tell them you want St. Petersburg to pass a Protections for Elections ordinance enforcing the federal ban on armed troops at polls.
(727) 893-7117

Show up to the next council meeting. Public comment is open to all residents. Three minutes at the mic changes priorities.
ThuS · 9:00 AM · St. Petersburg City Hall

Bring a friend. Two people speaking makes it a pattern. Five makes it a movement. Give this flyer to three people you know.

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