Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
Trump administration faces warnings over possible midterm election interference
State officials fear federal intervention could disrupt next week’s US midterm elections.
President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to “nationalise” voting in some places, while his administration says it is protecting election security.
The Justice Department has sued states for voter lists and sought to set aside ballots from people it suspects are not citizens; a judge rejected its California request, and Washington state refused a similar demand.
Studies find non-citizen voting is exceptionally rare, and federal courts have rejected many of the administration’s cases.
The Justice Department plans to send about 1,000 monitors to polling places nationwide, while officials and voting-rights groups worry that federal scrutiny or agents near polls could deter voters.
The main concern is disruption or doubt around the count, including through challenges to ballots or certification, but many scenarios remain hypothetical and courts can block unlawful interference.
State election officials and voting-rights groups are warning that federal actions could disrupt voting or challenge results in next week’s US midterm elections.
The Trump administration says it is protecting election security, while President Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned election integrity and urged the party to “nationalise” voting in at least 15 places.
The Justice Department has sued states for voter registration lists and sought to set aside ballots from people it suspects are non-citizens.
A federal judge rejected the department’s request to set aside ballots from about 20,000 people in California, and Washington state has also refused a similar demand.
The Justice Department plans to send around 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states, its largest deployment ever.
Many feared scenarios remain hypothetical, and federal courts have rebuffed the administration’s main legal challenges so far.
- Who
- The Trump administration, state election officials and voting-rights groups are central to the story.
- What
- Officials and advocates warn that federal intervention could disrupt voting, challenge ballot counts or seek to block unfavourable results.
- When
- The warnings concern next week’s midterm elections. The articles were published on October 30, 2026.
- Where
- Across the United States, including California, Washington state and Georgia.
- Why
- Trump and his administration say they are addressing election security and voter fraud; state officials and advocates fear the actions could disrupt voting or undermine valid results.
Trump administration
State election officials and voting-rights groups
Election security
Trump administration
The administration says its actions are intended to protect election security and identify non-citizens on voter rolls.
State election officials and voting-rights groups
Officials and advocates fear federal actions could disrupt voting, intimidate voters or undermine valid results.
Federal monitors
Trump administration
The Justice Department says monitors will be unarmed and barred from interfering with voting.
State election officials and voting-rights groups
Democrats and voting-rights groups fear monitors could intimidate voters.
Ballot eligibility
Trump administration
The Justice Department has sought to set aside ballots from people it suspects are non-citizens.
State election officials and voting-rights groups
State officials have resisted the demands, and a federal judge rejected the California request, saying it would wreak havoc on an election already underway.
Markwayne Mullin claimed the Department of Homeland Security had identified more than 250,000 non-citizens registered to vote in four states.
Trump offered US$1 million for information leading to a voter fraud conviction, without giving details.
A federal judge rejected the Justice Department’s request to set aside ballots from about 20,000 people in California.
The US midterm elections are due to take place, with the Justice Department planning to send around 1,000 monitors to all 50 states.
- Federal election monitors
- Around 1,000 planned for all 50 states
- California ballots
- About 20,000 people targeted by a Justice Department request to set ballots aside
- Washington ballots
- More than 400 people targeted by a similar demand
- Voter registration lists
- The Justice Department sued 30 states and the District of Columbia; it lost more than two dozen cases
- Trump’s offer
- US$1 million for information leading to a voter fraud conviction
2 sources
What people are saying
nationalise
We know that [foreign adversaries] can change voter registration and your vote