MADISON, Wis. — Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell is calling for clear guidance from Wisconsin election officials after federal officials declined to rule out sending agents to polling places during the November election. McDonell said local law enforcement agencies have been seeking direction on how to respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers or National Guard troops arrive at polling locations. He said little guidance has come from the Wisconsin Elections Commission or Attorney General Josh Kaul’s office. “There’s been kind of complete silence from the election commission and from the AG’s office about what to do in those situations,” McDonell said. The issue gained new urgency Wednesday, when U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., introduced legislation that her office said would prevent the president from deploying ICE or the National Guard to polling places this November. The proposal came roughly a week after FBI Director Kash Patel declined during a congressional hearing to rule out the possibility of federal agents being sent to polling sites. Other Trump administration officials also have publicly discussed the potential for federal personnel at polling locations, including in response to specific threats. Emilee Miklas, communications director for the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said the commission was not commenting on whether armed federal officials at polling places represented a concern in Wisconsin. She said the commission hoped to issue guidance before Election Day. “What I will say is that I think what we hope is to have some guidance in the future, to provide some clarity on that ahead of Election Day,” Miklas said. The potential deployments have prompted lawsuits against the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. The cases cite federal law that generally bars federal agents from polling places, except when they are needed to “repel armed enemies of the United States.” McDonell said the uncertainty itself could damage participation, even if no federal agents ultimately appear at Wisconsin polling sites. “That’s profoundly concerning. It is our constitutional right,” he said. For local election administrators, the dispute creates a practical concern as well as a legal one: Poll workers, voters and law enforcement agencies would need to know who has authority at polling places and how to protect access to the ballot without intimidating voters. Clear instructions before Election Day could help prevent confusion and reduce the risk that threats of enforcement activity keep people from voting.