--- title: "Trump Administration Intensifies Efforts to Control US Electoral Process" url: https://newscentral.site/trump-administration-intensifies-efforts-to-control-us-electoral/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Politics" published: 2026-10-24T11:00:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-24T15:36:26.114Z id: a65e41ee-d201-4023-b533-768802ca347a source: "Politico https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/24/trump-alaska-election-justice-department-01134590" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/trump-administration-intensifies-efforts-to-control-us-electoral/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Trump Administration Intensifies Efforts to Control US Electoral Process President Donald Trump's party is facing a potentially crushing defeat in the midterms, leading the President to intensify his efforts to control America's electoral process. The Justice Department has been actively engaged in lawsuits across nearly every state to gain access to voter files, while also revisiting long-standing proposals to restrict mail voting. This move sparked a Supreme Court case, further underscoring the tension surrounding election administration in the country. In another bid to exert his influence, Trump sought to tie anti-terrorism funds for state and local governments to their performance on election administration. He has also threatened to withhold federal election funding from states that refuse to revise voter registration forms, and there have been disagreements with Republican lawmakers over a bill aimed at overhauling the electoral system. The latest move by the Department of Justice (DOJ) has sparked concerns among election experts and lawmakers that Trump is resorting to desperate measures to gain an edge in the upcoming elections. Ben Ginsberg, a veteran Republican election law expert, views the DOJ's actions as a "real desperation play with no legal basis. This assessment comes after repeated setbacks for Trump's efforts to influence election administration, including court rulings and rejections from his own party. Despite these obstacles, the Trump administration continues to push forward with restrictive measures, such as requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship at the polls. The SAVE Act, which aims to implement this requirement, has stalled in the Senate but remains a contentious issue. Election officials are bracing themselves for what may come next, as Trump's actions have raised concerns about the potential for further interference and manipulation of the electoral process. Gabriel Sterling, a former senior Georgia elections official, has voiced concerns about the motivations behind the Alaska lawsuit filed by Donald Trump's team. He believes there may be an attempt to lay groundwork for claims that the election outcome would have been different if certain lawsuits had been successful. The lawsuit in question seeks to reverse Trump's loss in Alaska, where he initially won but later conceded after a recount. Sterling, who clashed with Trump over his false allegations of voter fraud in Georgia during the 2020 presidential election, suggests that this latest move may be part of a broader strategy to challenge the outcome of the election. Some Republican officials have expressed concerns about Trump's actions, with Stephen Richer, former GOP chief election official for Maricopa County, Arizona, describing the situation as unprecedented. According to Richer, Trump views the federal government as his personal company, allowing him to dictate its operations without regard for traditional norms or protocols. Most Republican statewide election officials in America have chosen not to comment on the DOJ's action in Alaska, with four declining to respond and the rest remaining silent. This reluctance to speak out suggests that Trump still holds significant sway within the party, particularly ahead of the November midterms. The reluctance to speak out against Trump's claims of election rigging suggests that he still holds significant sway within the Republican Party. This is particularly evident in the case of Richer, a former official who was ousted by a more conservative Republican after defending his county's 2020 election results against a yearslong campaign from Trump and his allies to prove they were rigged. The fact that Richer faced such strong opposition highlights the risks taken by those who dare to challenge Trump's narrative. Critics of the Department of Justice's lawsuit in Alaska have come out strongly against its timing, arguing it is an attempt to influence the outcome of the midterms. Fontes has described the DOJ's actions as monstrously political" and "inappropriate", claiming they will damage the department's credibility if allowed to stand. The lawsuit is just one example of Trump's efforts to undermine the electoral process, with Brown warning that the administration may contest the results of the midterms. Sterling takes a more nuanced view, predicting that the effort will ultimately backfire on the GOP by suppressing their own vote and energizing their opponents. The Trump administration's actions have sparked concerns about its intentions regarding federal authority over elections. Despite election laws stipulating that these proceedings be managed by state and local officials, the federal government appears to be increasingly intervening in these matters. Election officials at the state level are bracing for potential pushback from the federal government. In Georgia, a Republican official privy to internal discussions surrounding the Alaska lawsuit has expressed readiness to counter any attempts by the administration to assert its authority. This official's stance is clear: they're prepared to resist such actions. A heated confrontation between state and federal officials took place earlier this year. During a gathering of top election officials in February, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, a Republican and her state's chief election official, clashed with a senior White House aide over the DOJ's voter roll initiative. The dispute centered on accusations that the DOJ had publicly questioned the competence of state secretaries of state. The tension between state officials and the Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a boiling point when Henderson's office received a letter informing them that election monitors would be sent to her state. The move sparked an outcry from Henderson, who was visibly upset as she addressed White House Deputy Director Jared Borg. Henderson had previously expressed concerns about external threats in past elections, stating that the real danger came from outside sources rather than internal issues. --- Source: [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/24/trump-alaska-election-justice-department-01134590) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/trump-administration-intensifies-efforts-to-control-us-electoral/