Trump Has Tried to Exert More Control Over Elections. Here Are the Key Findings From Our Reporting.

President Donald Trump has taken numerous steps in recent years to assert greater federal control over the U.S. election process, according to ProPublica's reporting. In the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections, Trump's administration has made significant efforts to manipulate the voting system and curb foreign interference, despite these efforts ultimately proving unsuccessful.

Firstly, the administration sought to expand federal oversight of elections, cutting staff from election-related teams at federal law enforcement agencies and attempting to exert more control over voting procedures. This involved leveraging Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel, technology, and legal authority to pursue claims of noncitizen voter fraud, which has led to the charging of 41 people as of May 2024.

Secondly, Trump pushed out career officials who had been involved in election integrity and security, replacing them with appointees aligned with the conservative grassroots movement. These new appointees were often linked to Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who leads the Election Integrity Network, a group that advocates for changes to America's voting system. Mitchell has played a significant role in shaping the administration's election agenda despite not holding a formal position in the White House.

Lastly, Trump attempted to implement sweeping changes to the voting process, including requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to cast their ballots. He also sought to compel states to share their voter rolls with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These proposals, known collectively as the SAVE Act, have faced opposition in the Senate and have been blocked.