Donald Trump speaks during the White House Faith Office Luncheon. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Election officials around the country are rehearsing what to do if a federal agent shows up at a polling place demanding access to ballots or voting machines.
About 10 current and former Defense Department officials, some of whom previously focused on countering authoritarianism abroad, have been quietly warning states and lawmakers that President Donald Trump could try to interfere in next month’s midterms, reported The Washington Post.
Over the past several months, those current and former national security officials have consulted with officials from 10 states, including governors, election officials and members of Congress from both parties.
“All of them have said we’re concerned but we don’t know what to do,” one member of the group said of the meetings with lawmakers.
The effort had not been reported before. Members spoke on the condition that neither they nor the officials they met be identified, citing fear of retaliation. Some still work for the federal government, and they stressed that they did the work outside their official roles and based it on the administration’s public statements and actions, not classified intelligence.
They're concerned the administration could deploy troops or immigration agents to polling places, or try to nullify results with claims of voter fraud.
With lawmakers, especially Republicans, the group has focused on preparing them to publicly oppose any such moves. With states, members have worked on hardening election procedures the federal government could exploit. At least one state is still meeting with them.
“The outcome that we hope for is that states would be prepared for any contingencies should they arise,” one member said.
Tammy Patrick of the National Association of Election Officials told the Post that possible federal interference has become the dominant concern among the election officials she talks to. That concern is what led to the polling-place drills.
She pointed to steps the administration has already taken, such as pressuring states to redraw congressional maps and trying to limit mail-in voting. “All of these things,” Patrick said, “are being done in the open.”
White House spokesperson Lauren Bis blew off the group’s concerns. She blamed Democrats for opposing stricter election laws and said the administration “is taking decisive action to protect our elections.”
The warnings come as Trump’s approval rating sits at a record low and polling indicates Democrats are likely to flip the House.
Trump and top officials have declined to rule out sending troops or immigration agents to the polls, and the president also told The New York Times earlier this year that he regretted not having the National Guard seize voting machines in 2020.
Some Republicans share the alarm, and GOP-led Utah has refused to hand over its voter rolls to the administration. “The threats that we’re getting now are mostly from our own government,” Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson told the Post earlier this month.
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