Vote Safe sends US poll volunteers amid ICE fears

US civil rights and pro-democracy groups have begun sending trained volunteers to polling places through a Vote Safe initiative, citing fears of possible federal agent deployments around next month's midterm elections.

The campaign began as early voting opened in Ohio this week and is also planned for Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan, four states with closely watched races in the November 3 elections. Organizers say clergy, veterans, teachers and other community volunteers will explain voting rights, try to de-escalate confrontations and document possible intimidation or misconduct.

Vote Safe includes the Save America Movement, Al Sharpton's National Action Network and the American Federation of Teachers union. Mary Corcoran, executive director of the Save America Movement, accused President Donald Trump's administration of creating fear by repeatedly raising the possibility of federal intervention around the vote.

Trump has made unsubstantiated warnings about widespread election fraud a central part of his political movement. Asked in September about declaring a national emergency, using Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at voting locations or invoking the Insurrection Act, he declined to rule the steps out.

The administration says it has no plan for a broad ICE presence at polling sites, and the military has told lawmakers it is not currently intending to deploy troops. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said immigration officers could appear at a voting location to serve a warrant or respond to a threat.

Vote Safe organizers say their volunteers will be unarmed and nonpartisan, and that they are not being sent to confront officials.