Trump's midterm subversion push stalls in courts as Election Day arrives
Courts have blocked a string of administration efforts to interfere with voting, but advocates warn post-election tactics are coming next.
What to know
- A series of administration and GOP-allied attempts to affect the midterms — a voter-data dragnet, a USPS mail-voting scheme, an Alaska certification challenge, a California purge demand, official-prosecution threats, and a Missouri redistricting plan — have all been blocked or struck down by federal judges.
- Turnout indicators point to a massive midterm vote despite these suppression efforts, which Democracy Docket calls a failure so far.
- Voting-rights advocates warn the more consequential fight may come after Election Day, through lawsuits and challenges aimed at delaying or blocking certification or vote counts.
- Most anticipated post-election legal tactics are expected to fail in court but could still sow confusion and erode confidence in the results.
“The Trump administration's continued promotion of false narratives about election integrity coupled with the Department of Justice's willingness to file baseless litigation aimed at undermining confidence in the results are a real danger to our democracy”
Ben Hovland, Senior fellow, CAP Action Fund; former EAC chair · Democracy Docket ↗ · Nov 2
Donald Trump PresidentBen Hovland Senior fellow, Center for American Progress Action Fund; former EAC chairU.S. Department of Justice Federal agencyMissouri Republicans State legislators
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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background
Advocates brace for a post-election subversion push — Democracy Docket warns that in the days and weeks after Election Day, Trump and the GOP may pursue lawsuits to stop vote counting, efforts to delay or challenge certification, or attempts to seize ballots or voting machines, even though most such schemes are expected to fail in court.
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Election Day arrives with record turnout expected
Voters head to the polls Tuesday amid indicators pointing to massive midterm turnout, despite the administration's voter-suppression efforts, which Democracy Docket calls "an unqualified flop" so far.
“the American people choose our leaders and are turning out to vote in record numbers…”
— Ben Hovland -
first by Democracy Docket, 4d ago
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SF Chronicle opinion piece warns Trump is trying to subvert the midterms
An opinion column shared on Reddit argues the administration is using federal power to interfere with the election ahead of Tuesday's vote.
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background
Federal judges block or strike down each scheme — At almost every turn, courts stopped the administration's and its allies' attempts described above, according to Democracy Docket's tally.
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background
Administration and GOP allies launch multi-front push against the midterms — Efforts included a nationwide voter-data collection campaign to help states purge rolls, a plan to use the Postal Service to disrupt mail voting, a legal bid to block certification of Alaska's Senate race, a push to stop 20,000 Californians from voting, threats to prosecute election officials, and a Missouri GOP plan to eliminate a majority-Black congressional district.