Statement of Principles on the Use of the National Guard During Election Season

Major General Daryl Bohac (Ret.) & Major General Timothy Orr (Ret.) (2026)

Written by two former Adjutants General with nearly nine decades of combined National Guard service, this statement offers practical guidance for TAGs and other senior Guard leaders navigating election season deployments. Organized around five principles — deliberate preparation, navigating pressure from civil authorities, preserving public trust, undertaking appropriate missions, and after-action learning — the document draws on firsthand experience to address the legal, institutional, and civil-military challenges that election season presents. It is accompanied by a preparation checklist covering legal authorities, mission scoping, public affairs, command and control, and personnel considerations.