The Memo: Trump’s media ban overshadows Xi visit as midterms clock runs down
The key moment of President Trump’s week did not come at the state dinner with Chinese premier Xi Jinping nor as the two leaders toured the National Archives. It came instead on social media. On Thursday afternoon, Trump proclaimed the arrival of Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, as “magnificent” but bemoaned the sparsity of...
Election experts have expressed concerns that Donald Trump's administration may use the post-election counting window to disrupt the results of the upcoming midterm elections. While the Supreme Court recently rejected the administration's attempts to impose heavy restrictions on mail-in ballots, there is apprehension about how Trump and his allies might exploit the period when votes are being counted. This window can last days or even weeks in some states, such as California.
Caitlin Durkovich, a former deputy homeland security adviser, warned that the administration could seize equipment or ballots, even if not legally justified, to challenge results that don't go their way. Larry Norden, vice president of the elections and government program at the Brennan Center, emphasized that this period poses the biggest threat right now as doubt about the integrity of the process may arise.
State-level elections officials are trying to prepare the public about the process to head off a manufactured controversy later, according to Norden. Early voting, which eliminates most threats voters apprehend, is highlighted as a crucial measure to maintain confidence in the system.
The power of doubt about the validity of votes remains a concern, especially with Trump's insistence on the possibility of foreign interference and emergency measures around election day. Ben Hovland, former chair of the Election Assistance Commission, noted that every state now has live ballots out, signaling the start of the election.
This year, the DOJ and FBI have not entered a "quiet period" ahead of the election, unlike in past years. The DHS continues to pursue voter-roll lists, while DHS is also conducting an "unlawful voter initiative" that uses questionable data and may be unlawful.
Experts stress that there is no evidence of foreign interference in the electoral process, as the 2020 election did not show any such examples. Election security has improved across the country due to the aftermath of Trump's 2020 defeat, with states auditing their results and taking cybersecurity seriously. However, the federal government has reduced its support for election security in CISA, leaving state election officials in a more vulnerable position.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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