By Elsie Kamsiyochi
A senior official in U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration reportedly pushed an extraordinary proposal to ban voting machines used in more than half of American states, according to multiple people familiar with internal discussions. The effort, which centered on machines produced by Dominion Voting Systems, was ultimately abandoned after officials failed to uncover evidence supporting long-standing allegations of election fraud.
The proposal emerged as part of a broader push inside the Trump administration to reshape how elections are managed in the United States, with some officials reportedly exploring ways for the federal government to take greater control over election systems traditionally overseen by state and local authorities.
At the center of the effort was White House adviser Kurt Olsen, a lawyer closely tied to Trump’s repeated claims that the 2020 election was stolen through widespread fraud — allegations that courts, bipartisan investigations and election experts have repeatedly rejected. According to sources familiar with the matter, Olsen sought to remove Dominion voting machines from use nationwide and replace them with a system based entirely on hand-counted paper ballots before the upcoming midterm elections.
Dominion voting systems are currently used in at least 27 states, representing a significant portion of the nation’s election infrastructure. Most jurisdictions already rely on systems that combine digital vote counting with paper audit trails, allowing officials to verify election results through recounts and post-election reviews.
An Attempt Framed as National Security
According to sources, Olsen and allies explored whether the U.S. Department of Commerce could classify components used in Dominion voting machines as national security threats. The proposal reportedly involved arguing that certain technology embedded in the systems could pose risks due to foreign manufacturing links or supply-chain vulnerabilities.
Discussions allegedly reached senior government levels. Officials inside the Commerce Department reportedly examined whether existing laws governing foreign technology threats could be used to justify restrictions on Dominion equipment.
The effort was said to involve Paul McNamara, an aide linked to intelligence operations under Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, as well as Brian Sikma, a Trump administration policy adviser. Sources claim that conversations focused on whether Dominion hardware or software could somehow be connected to foreign adversaries — particularly Venezuela, China or Russia.
However, officials reportedly hit a major obstacle: no evidence emerged to support the allegations.
By September, according to people briefed on the process, the proposal stalled after Olsen and others failed to produce proof that Dominion machines had been manipulated, compromised or connected to foreign election interference.
A spokesperson for the Commerce Department denied that Secretary Howard Lutnick had any involvement in such discussions, while representatives for the intelligence community rejected claims that a coordinated plan existed to ban voting machines.
Debunked Claims Continue to Shape Policy Discussions
The proposal appears to have been heavily influenced by conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Trump and several allies have repeatedly claimed Dominion machines were used to alter vote counts — accusations that have been investigated extensively and dismissed by courts, cybersecurity experts and election officials.
Dominion itself has successfully fought back against false allegations in court. In 2023, Fox News agreed to pay nearly $787 million to settle a defamation lawsuit after broadcasting misleading claims about the company’s role in the election.
Despite repeated investigations finding no evidence of manipulation, Trump has continued publicly raising concerns about voting technology. Earlier this month, he reposted an old video online repeating allegations that Dominion systems deleted millions of votes — a claim that has been repeatedly disproven.
Push for Hand-Counted Paper Ballots Raises Concerns
Olsen’s reported preference for a nationwide system of hand-marked and hand-counted paper ballots has also sparked debate among election experts.
Supporters argue hand-counted ballots reduce cybersecurity concerns and eliminate fears of electronic interference. But many election-security specialists warn such systems introduce new vulnerabilities, including human counting errors, delayed results and opportunities for ballot tampering.
Experts note that more than 98% of U.S. election jurisdictions already produce paper records of votes, giving officials the ability to conduct audits and recounts if concerns arise. Many specialists argue the current hybrid system — combining machines with voter-verified paper trails — strikes a balance between speed, security and accountability.
Some researchers have warned that shifting entirely to manual counting across the country could overwhelm election systems and create confusion during high-turnout contests, especially in large urban areas.
Wider Questions About Federal Election Authority
The failed effort highlights growing tensions over who controls elections in the United States. Under the U.S. Constitution, elections are primarily administered by states and local governments, a structure designed to prevent centralized control of voting systems by the federal executive branch.
Critics of the reported proposal say any federal attempt to invalidate widely used voting systems without evidence would risk undermining public trust in elections and create legal battles across multiple states.
At the same time, supporters of stricter election oversight argue reforms are necessary to rebuild voter confidence, particularly after years of political division surrounding election integrity.
While the reported plan appears to have collapsed, it reflects the continued influence of election-fraud claims inside parts of the Trump administration and suggests that debates over voting technology and election control are likely to remain a major issue heading into the next national elections.
Source Reuters
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