Federal election changes raising concerns for the midterms

Key Points:

• The Trump administration has pushed for expanded federal authority over elections, including stricter mail-in ballot rules, the SAVE America Act, and DOJ efforts to access voter rolls for immigration comparisons, raising concerns about federal overreach and privacy risks.
• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which played a key role in election security, has experienced significant workforce reductions and placed over a dozen election security workers on leave since Trump's return, undermining trust among state and local election officials.
• A survey of election officials revealed some decreased contact and support from CISA, including fewer training opportunities and limited responsiveness, though most reported no impact on their preparations for the 2026 midterms.
• Despite federal involvement, election administration remains primarily a state and local responsibility as mandated by the Constitution, with experts emphasizing that political noise should not undermine voter trust or participation.
• Election security experts urge voters to disregard misinformation, highlighting that voting in the U.S. remains safe, secure, and accessible, and encourage increased voter turnout as a response to concerns about election integrity.