President Trump has intensified warnings about election integrity, claiming voter fraud and foreign interference as the midterms approach. Federal agents are scouring state rolls to find noncitizen voters, while the Homeland Security chief has asked the Justice Department to examine voting machine trustworthiness. Election officials fear these efforts lay groundwork to challenge results unfavorable to Republicans.
The President has been blocked by the Supreme Court from direct federal control over state-administered elections. Instead, allies are systematically spreading false claims to sow doubt about the decentralized system. Senator Mark Warner warns Trump may cite foreign interference to seize voting machines.
White House officials maintain efforts ensure fairness, pointing to Trump's statement he will accept outcomes but opposes cheating. At a rally in Arizona, Trump repeated false assertions about 2020 machines being broken in Republican areas. The administration has met with Tina Peters, a former clerk convicted of tampering with voting machines, discussing election integrity concerns.
Ed Martin suggested both believe foreign actors could exploit vulnerabilities to change votes. The result could be administration officials contesting results by citing findings the vote is tainted. Good people of both parties and independents may have to say no to allow this to take place.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing