Somerville, MA - 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 Somerville?

Legal Authority

Massachusetts definitively operates as a Home Rule state, abandoning Dillon's Rule completely with the 1966 ratification of Art...

Why It Can Work Here

The city adopted a major charter revision in November 2025 that increased council oversight, created pathways to ranked

What the Ordinance Would Do
Direct city police not to assist armed federal personnel near polling places. No new criminal penalties — just a policy on how the city's own resources are used.

Your City Council

11 members · 7 ward + 4 at-large
Formerly Board of Aldermen. Most densely populated city in New England.

Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

(617) 625-6600 x4100
somervillema.gov/departments/city-council

Meetings

Thu

7:00 PM

2nd & 4th Thu

What You Can Do

Call your council member and tell them you want Somerville to pass a Protections for Elections ordinance enforcing the federal ban on armed troops at polls.
(617) 625-6600 x4100

Show up to the next council meeting. Public comment is open to all residents. Three minutes at the mic changes priorities.
ThuS · 7:00 PM · Somerville 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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