Experts are divided on whether changing how elections work before an election affects elections.
The Trump administration is pursuing an extensive effort to reshape how the 2026 midterm elections will be conducted, according to a Washington Post investigation based on documents and interviews with more than three dozen election officials and experts. Critics say the changes threaten democratic norms. The administration says it is ensuring election integrity. Both positions were held with conviction.
“I’m concerned about chaos and uncertainty in the administration of the 2026 election,” said Nathaniel Persily, a Stanford Law School professor who specializes in democracy and elections-related law. The White House responded that “President Trump’s only motivation is doing what’s best for the American people and ensuring each of their votes count.”
Below is a summary of the measures being pursued and the disagreements about them.
Redistricting
The administration has pressed Republican state lawmakers to redraw congressional maps before the constitutionally required 10-year schedule. Ordinarily, states draw new maps after each census. The Post reports that Republicans have already made nine districts more favorable for themselves across Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas, with Florida considering similar changes.
Critics call this gerrymandering. Supporters call it redistricting. Both words refer to redrawing district lines.
Some Republican lawmakers have resisted the pressure. GOP leaders in Indiana, Kansas, and New Hampshire declined the administration’s requests. They did not elaborate on why they felt the existing schedule was sufficient.
Mail Voting
The President has pledged to “lead a movement” to end mail voting and suggested he would issue an executive order to do so. The Post notes this would disrupt voting in all states and upend elections in eight states that conduct virtually all voting by mail.
The Constitution puts states in charge of elections and does not give the president authority to dictate voting rules. Courts have blocked related executive orders. The administration continues to pursue the policy.
Some Republican operatives worry that ending mail voting could decrease Republican turnout, particularly among older voters who prefer it. The administration has not indicated whether this concern factors into its planning.
Voting Machines
The President has called voting machines a “COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER” and said he would attempt to end their use. Every state currently tallies ballots using voting machines, which are faster and more accurate than hand counts.
Eliminating voting machines would require states to recruit hundreds of thousands of additional poll workers. Results would take days, weeks, or months to compute. Recounts would become less reliable.
The administration’s March executive order established new standards for voting equipment that no commercially available machines currently meet. The bipartisan Election Assistance Commission has not adopted these standards but may soon.
Voter Roll Requests
The Justice Department is seeking voter registration lists from at least 40 states, in many cases requesting personal information including dates of birth and partial Social Security numbers. The department has sued 23 states and Washington, D.C., for their records.
The administration says it wants the lists to ensure states follow federal laws. Critics warn that inaccurate data matches could disenfranchise legitimate voters. Ten states have provided their complete voter files or indicated they intend to.
During the President’s first term, a similar commission requested this information. States refused to comply, and the commission was disbanded.
Staffing
The Post documents that the administration has appointed officials who promoted the claim that the President won the 2020 election to positions overseeing elections and law enforcement. These include the Attorney General, the FBI Director, the assistant attorney general leading the civil rights division, the pardon attorney, and officials at the Homeland Security Department and FEMA.
A Homeland Security spokesperson said the agency “is committed to securing a free and fair election in 2026.” The Justice Department and White House did not comment on staffing decisions.
Military Deployments
The administration has deployed or attempted to deploy National Guard troops in several cities run by Democrats. Federal law forbids military deployments at polls and bars service members from intimidating voters.
Critics fear deployments could be ramped up near Election Day. The White House declined to say when the President might deploy the National Guard in the future. The Supreme Court barred the administration from deploying troops in Chicago in December.
Census
The President has suggested conducting a census years ahead of schedule that would exclude undocumented immigrants. Census counts determine electoral votes, House seats, and district boundaries.
The Constitution says “the whole number of persons in each State” must be counted. Legal challenges are expected. The clock is running out for a new census before 2026, though the administration could pursue one before 2028.
What Happens Next
Trey Grayson, a former Republican secretary of state in Kentucky, told the Post: “All across the powers of the executive, he’s attempting to do things that maybe he doesn’t have the authority [to do]—or certainly have never been tried.”
Courts will likely determine which rules are in place for the midterm elections. Local and state officials, who have primary responsibility for running elections, have said they distrust the administration and are reluctant to share information.
The President, in a recent speech to House Republicans, said Democrats would impeach him if they win a majority. He teased the notion of canceling the elections but said he wouldn’t because he’d be accused of being a dictator if he did.
The midterm elections are scheduled for November.
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