Election Officials Brace Against Possible Federal Intrusions in the Midterms

Democratic election officials are quietly building contingency plans for potential federal involvement in state elections during the 2026 midterms, spurred by post-2020 election tensions and the administration’s push for access to voter data, including the FBI’s seizure of ballots in Fulton County. They discuss measures to protect voters at polling places, bolster cyber defenses, and manage possible interactions with federal agents—scenarios they describe as worst-case but necessary planning, not predictions. The backdrop includes DOJ actions, ongoing debates over federal role in elections, and a notable reduction in federal cybersecurity support for election infrastructure.