Courts and Local Officials Blunt Election Interference
The election produced few major disruptions despite months of concern about federal interference. Democrats won control of both the House and Senate, and President Donald Trump said he was willing to accept the results. He also indicated he would not challenge them, according to the accounts of his remarks on election night and afterward.
The Supreme Court had blocked Trump’s March executive order restricting mail-in voting. On election eve, it rejected the Justice Department’s bid to require California officials to set aside ballots from about 20,000 voters it said could be noncitizens. An appeals court also upheld a nationwide ban on the department threatening local election workers with criminal prosecution over their handling of elections.
Local officials resisted other federal demands. Republican election officials in six states refused Trump’s requests for voter information, while officials in Alaska, Florida and Kansas provided only public records. Election monitors from the Justice Department did not appear to cause disturbances, ICE agents were not sent to polling places, and the Postal Service delivered mail ballots.
There were isolated problems, including a ballot-scanner delay in Westchester County, New York, and bomb threats that temporarily affected some polling places. Election officials and voting-rights groups said preparations and training helped keep operations lawful and limit the effects of federal overreach.
The Justice Department continues investigating claims involving noncitizen voters in California and two candidates named Daniel Sullivan in Alaska. A remaining concern raised by democracy advocates is that officials could refuse to certify results. If that happens, a court could compel certification, according to Protect Democracy’s Ian Bassin.
Democracy Holds as Courts and Officials Defeat Trump’s Election Push
The midterms delivered a clear rebuke to President Donald Trump—and showed that the guardrails he tested still held. Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, while the federal government’s election-day presence did not produce the disruption that voting-rights advocates had feared.
Courts rejected key administration efforts. The Supreme Court blocked Trump’s plan to restrict mail-in voting and, on election eve, turned away the Justice Department’s attempt to have California set aside ballots from about 20,000 voters it said might be noncitizens. An appeals court also upheld a nationwide ban on threatening local election workers with criminal prosecution over election administration.
Local officials played a crucial role. Republican election officials in six states refused Trump’s demands for voter information; officials in three others handed over only public records. ICE agents were not sent to polling places, Justice Department monitors did not cause reported disturbances, and mail ballots were delivered.
There were isolated problems, including a scanner delay in Westchester County and bomb threats that temporarily affected polling places, but no widespread chaos. Election officials and voting-rights groups credited preparation and training with helping keep the election lawful. Trump said he was willing to accept the result and indicated he would not challenge it.
The Justice Department is still pursuing claims involving California voter rolls and two Alaska candidates named Daniel Sullivan. Advocates also warn that any attempt to block certification could require a court order compelling officials to certify the results.
Election Runs Normally Despite Warnings of Federal Interference
The midterms ended without the widespread election-day chaos that months of warnings had anticipated. Democrats won both the House and Senate, and President Donald Trump said he was willing to accept the results and indicated he would not challenge them.
Some administration initiatives were stopped by courts. The Supreme Court blocked Trump’s executive order restricting mail-in voting and rejected the Justice Department’s request to have California set aside ballots from about 20,000 voters it said could be noncitizens. An appeals court upheld a nationwide ban on the department threatening local election workers with prosecution.
State and local officials also declined some federal requests. Republican officials in six states refused demands for voter information, and officials in Alaska, Florida and Kansas provided only public records. Justice Department voting monitors did not lead to reported disturbances, ICE agents were not sent to polling places, and the Postal Service delivered mail ballots.
The day did have isolated problems: a scanner delay in Westchester County, New York, bomb threats that briefly affected some polling places, and complaints about access and voters being turned away. The accounts described these as limited issues rather than widespread disruption. Election officials and voting-rights groups credited advance training and preparation with helping manage the day.
The Justice Department continues investigating claims involving California voter rolls and two Alaska candidates named Daniel Sullivan. The possibility of officials refusing to certify results remains a concern raised by democracy advocates, who say courts can compel certification.
Reported by The American Prospect, CNN.
