Donald Trump has seriously weakened America’s election security system just before the midterms — and it’s as concerning as it seems.
The Election Assistance Commission — a bipartisan, independent group created by Congress in 2002 to help states run fair and secure elections — no longer exists in any real way.
On Thursday, Trump fired the two remaining Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, through a cold, impersonal email from the White House.The lone Republican commissioner resigned.A fourth seat was already vacant.Now, the commission has no members left.
This is the agency that checks your voting machines.
That keeps the national mail-voter registration form up to date.That acts as the main hub, making sure election officials in every state have accurate and reliable information.It’s gone — completely wiped out — just months before Americans go to vote.
Why now?
Because Trump knows exactly what’s coming in November.His war in Iran is not popular.His economic approval is falling fast.Instead of facing the results of his own mistakes, Trump is doing what he always does: trying to make elections unfair before they happen.
He’s been working toward this for months — spreading false claims about mail-in voting fraud (even though he voted by mail in a Florida election in March), pushing for strict voter ID laws, and trying to force states to require proof of citizenship through an illegal executive order that a federal judge already ruled against.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said it clearly: “It is irresponsible and dangerous that this administration remains determined to cause chaos for our election officials across the country.”
The White House says this is about “securing elections.” But you don’t make elections safe by firing every independent person whose job is to keep them safe.
You do that if you want no one to watch when you try to mess with the process.
Michael Waldman of the Brennan Center called it exactly what it is: deeply worrying, given “Trump’s ongoing efforts to interfere in elections.”
Trump isn’t protecting democracy.
He’s tearing down its protections, right on time, right before voters get to decide.
About the Author
