Rochester, NY - 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 Rochester?

Legal Authority

New York is definitively a Constitutional Home Rule State—not a Dillon's Rule jurisdiction—with local government powers protect...

Why It Can Work Here

The nine-member City Council is entirely Democratic under Mayor Malik Evans (re-elected November 2025).

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

9 members · 5 at-large + 4 district (4-year terms)
At-large members elected same year as mayor; district members elected 2 years later.

Rochester City Hall
30 Church St, Rochester, NY 14614

(585) 428-7421
cityofrochester.gov/departments/city-council

Meetings

Tue

6:00 PM

Monthly (Tue evening; committees 2nd Tue & Thu)

What You Can Do

Call your council member and tell them you want Rochester to pass a Protections for Elections ordinance enforcing the federal ban on armed troops at polls.
(585) 428-7421

Show up to the next council meeting. Public comment is open to all residents. Three minutes at the mic changes priorities.
TueS · 6:00 PM · Rochester 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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