NewsTampa Bay TimesOctober 26, 2026Hillsborough County
Border Patrol agents visited Florida early voting site to cast ballots, officials say
Photo: Tampa Bay Times
Border Patrol agents were seen at a Leon County early voting site attempting to cast ballots before leaving the state, but left immediately upon realizing they were not registered Leon County voters, election officials said.
Read the full story at Tampa Bay TimesWhy It Matters
Involves federal law enforcement presence at state polling locations during active early voting periods, prompting formal investigations and FBI complaints from local election supervisors.
Key Facts
- Border Patrol agents were spotted at a Leon County early voting site in Tallahassee.
- According to Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley, the agents were attempting to vote early because they would be out of state on Election Day.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the agents belonged to a team normally stationed in South Florida and recently reassigned out of state.
- The agents left the polling location immediately after realizing they were not registered voters in Leon County.
- Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies launched an investigation into separate reports of masked federal agents conducting a stop at a polling place in Key Largo.
- Both Leon and Monroe county election supervisors lodged formal complaints with the FBI regarding the incidents.
- Federal law generally prohibits armed federal agents from conducting activities in and around polling places unless force is necessary against armed enemies.
- The FBI had previously assured election supervisors at a summer conference that no immigration enforcement would occur at polling places.
- Early voting in Florida is scheduled to end on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Who's Mentioned
PersonTim Bobanic“Brevard County Supervisor of Elections”locationFlorida“State where early voting is taking place”PersonByron Donalds“Governor candidate”PersonAna Goñi-Lessan“Author of the news article”locationKey Largo“Location of polling place stop in Monroe County”locationMonroe County“Florida county where immigration enforcement was reported”OrganizationNews Service of Florida“Publishing organization”locationBrevard County“Florida county referenced regarding election security assurances”PersonDavid Jolly“Governor candidate”locationLeon County“Location of the early voting site and supervisor of elections office”OrganizationFBI“Federal agency receiving formal complaints from election supervisors”OrganizationNortheast Library“Early voting site in Tallahassee”OrganizationU.S. Department of Homeland Security“Parent department of U.S. Customs and Border Protection”PersonMark Earley“Leon County Supervisor of Elections”locationTallahassee“City where the voting site is located”locationSt. Petersburg“Location of mayoral race and ballots”OrganizationU.S. Customs and Border Protection“Federal agency that identified the vehicles and agents involved”PersonSherri Hodies“Monroe County Supervisor of Elections”locationU.S. Highway 319“Location of the voting site before leaving Florida”