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Trump fires last members of election commission, inciting fears of midterm ‘chaos’
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump has terminated the remaining three members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission, an independent federal body that supports election administration nationwide, just months before the midterm elections.
- The Republican appointee resigned voluntarily, while the two Democratic commissioners were dismissed via email from the White House presidential personnel office.
- The Election Assistance Commission plays a critical role in accrediting testing labs, certifying voting systems, and maintaining the national mail-voter registration form, functions vital to election integrity.
- Critics, including Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, condemned the move as irresponsible and harmful to nonpartisan election administration, especially amid ongoing debates over vote-by-mail and election outcomes.
- The Help America Vote Act allows the president to appoint replacements, but it remains unclear how Trump plans to proceed with reconstituting the commission.
