As the November 3 midterm elections approach, federal agencies are increasing their involvement in the electoral process, sparking concerns among state officials. While the U.S. Constitution leaves election administration to the states, the Trump administration has taken several steps that critics describe as an attempt to influence outcomes and monitor voting systems.

What are the federal actions?

The Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have both been central to these developments. Recent actions include:

  • The DoJ suing California over claims that 20,000 mail-in ballots were sent to "likely noncitizens."
  • Requests from DHS appointees for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to secretly acquire and hack a voting machine.
  • The DoJ seeking full voter rolls from nearly every state, including private data like Social Security numbers.
  • Increased presence of federal law enforcement at polling sites.

Why is this happening now?

The administration has pushed for changes to the electoral system, including attempts to limit mail-in voting and encourage GOP-led states to redraw House maps. While many of these efforts have been blocked by Congress or the courts, the administration continues to use executive actions and legal challenges to shape the process.

Furthermore, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has faced internal tension. Career staffers reportedly felt pressured by political appointees to bypass standard practices, such as notifying voting machine companies when flaws are discovered. Some former officials expressed fear that such information could be used to "invalidate any [election] results they don’t like."

How are states responding?

Election authorities are preparing for various scenarios, including the potential seizure of ballots or voting equipment. Many officials report feeling unsupported as federal cybersecurity assistance has decreased. Utah Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson noted that while threats were once external, "now we also have threats coming from within our own government."

In California, Secretary of State Shirley Weber challenged the federal government's claims, stating that the DoJ's efforts to access protected voter data could fuel public distrust.

FAQ

Does the President run U.S. elections?

No, under the Constitution, elections are primarily administered by individual states, towns, and counties rather than the federal government.

What is CISA?

CISA is a federal agency responsible for protecting election systems from cybersecurity threats and hacking.