US election officials prepare for possible federal intervention ahead of elections
In the United States, state and local election officials are preparing for possible attempts by the federal government to influence the midterm elections in November. The Jerusalem Post reports this, citing Reuters, which surveyed more than 50 election officials from both parties, including 12 state secretaries of state.
Nearly all respondents said they are introducing new measures because of the risks of political interference, disinformation, cyberattacks and violence. In California, officials are rehearsing a scenario involving the appearance of federal agents at polling stations, while in Michigan, local clerks are being instructed on how to respond to possible federal requests for access to election records or equipment.
Legal preparation
More than a dozen local and state officials said they are hiring outside lawyers or undergoing legal training. They are preparing for potential demands to provide confidential voter data or access to election equipment. During the training, officials are also being instructed on the procedures for federal investigations, the differences between search warrants and subpoenas, and options for challenging them in court.
In Dane County, Wisconsin, lawyers have begun preparing documents to challenge in court possible attempts to seize election equipment or records. Officials are also taking into account the possibility of immigration service officers appearing at polling stations. In Michigan, the secretary of state's office consulted private attorneys on protecting local election workers from a possible federal review.
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Under the US Constitution, elections are administered by states and local authorities, not the president. At the same time, Donald Trump's administration filed lawsuits against states that refused to provide federal authorities with confidential data from voter rolls, and also launched reviews of election officials and offices in Wisconsin, Georgia and other states.
Polling station security
Election authorities are also strengthening physical security. In Durham, North Carolina, the election office was equipped with bullet-resistant doors, bulletproof glass and panic buttons, and armed security guards were also deployed. Coordinators at 68 polling stations in the county will have geolocation devices to call law enforcement.
In Detroit, the head of the city's election service, Janice Winfrey, has round-the-clock police protection after receiving death threats following false claims of fraud in the 2020 election. Ballot drop boxes in the city are monitored with surveillance cameras, and the windows of the election headquarters have been replaced with bulletproof ones.
The White House dismissed concerns about a possible disruption of the elections by federal actions and said the administration is ensuring enforcement of election law. The US Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration's plan for new mail-in voting requirements until the November elections.
