By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration has undertaken 15 major election-related initiatives ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, expanding federal involvement in voter eligibility verification, election infrastructure security, ballot auditing and enforcement of federal voting laws as Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree over the measures’ necessity and legality.
The initiatives span the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, Defense Department, Department of Health and Human Services, Education Department, Commerce Department and several federal agencies responsible for administering election-related programs.
A Nov. 2 report by Just the News, written by John Solomon, identified 15 actions the administration has undertaken or proposed since Trump returned to office in January 2025.
The report describes the initiatives as part of the administration’s effort to improve election integrity, strengthen public confidence and address vulnerabilities in voter registration databases and electronic voting systems.
Several initiatives involve changes already announced by federal agencies, while others concern ongoing investigations, proposed policies or requirements being challenged in court.
Administration officials argue that tighter controls are necessary to ensure only eligible individuals participate in federal elections and that properly cast ballots are accurately counted.
Democratic officials and voting rights organizations have challenged several measures, arguing that some federal demands could improperly interfere with state election administration or prevent eligible Americans from voting.
The dispute reflects a broader constitutional question over the division of election responsibilities. States generally administer elections, while Congress and federal agencies exercise particular authorities established by the Constitution and federal law.
As voters prepare to cast their ballots Tuesday, the initiatives are drawing additional scrutiny over their implementation, legal status and practical effects.
Federal agencies expand investigations into noncitizen voting
One of the administration’s principal priorities has been identifying noncitizens who registered or voted in federal elections unlawfully.
According to Just the News, the Justice Department and Homeland Security Department have collectively pursued more than 200 cases involving foreign nationals or noncitizens accused of improperly registering or voting.
The reported figure includes arrests, prosecutions and convictions, which represent different stages of the criminal justice process. Arrests and charges do not establish guilt.
The administration has characterized the effort as an unusually extensive federal enforcement campaign targeting election-related immigration violations.
Federal law generally prohibits noncitizens from voting in elections for federal office. Criminal violations can carry penalties, although prosecutors must establish the elements of the alleged offense.
The reported enforcement figures do not, by themselves, establish the national prevalence of illegal voting, particularly without information about the number of ballots involved, the applicable time period and the disposition of individual cases.
Research and previous election investigations have generally found that confirmed noncitizen voting is uncommon relative to the total number of ballots cast.
The administration nevertheless maintains that enforcement is necessary regardless of the frequency of violations, arguing that each unlawful vote can undermine confidence in election administration.
Defense Department establishes voting assistance day for military personnel
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed military personnel to set aside a day in October during federal election years to address voting arrangements.
According to Just the News, the initiative is designed to give service members and their families dedicated time to register, request absentee ballots and complete voting procedures.
Military personnel stationed overseas or away from their home states can face logistical challenges involving mail delivery, deadlines and access to election information.
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act establishes federal protections for eligible military personnel and certain Americans living abroad.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program provides guidance and resources to help those voters participate in federal elections.
The administration’s dedicated voting day is intended to make those existing protections easier to use.
Defense officials have also reviewed absentee ballot application procedures involving overseas voters.
Just the News reports that the department has moved to address practices under which certain American citizens who have never resided in the United States could receive voting assistance associated with military and overseas absentee ballot programs.
Eligibility in such circumstances varies under state law. Some states permit eligible U.S. citizens born abroad who have never lived in the country to vote using a parent’s last U.S. residence.
Consequently, the distinction between correcting improper applications and restricting lawful overseas voting rights is important when evaluating any procedural changes.
Federal officials have described their actions as an effort to prevent ineligible individuals from exploiting absentee voting systems while protecting the rights of military voters.
Nursing home voting guidance emphasizes residents’ rights
The Department of Health and Human Services has issued guidance addressing voting rights and potential coercion involving nursing home residents.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz emphasized that residents have the right to vote, decline to vote or receive appropriate assistance from someone they trust.
The guidance addresses concerns about the vulnerability of elderly and disabled individuals to coercion, interference or unauthorized handling of ballots.
Federal law protects voting rights for eligible residents of long-term care facilities, and nursing homes participating in Medicare or Medicaid must respect residents’ rights.
The administration’s initiative seeks to clarify those protections and discourage caregivers, visitors or political activists from influencing residents improperly.
Residents who need assistance may receive help consistent with federal and state law, including applicable restrictions intended to prevent intimidation or conflicts of interest.
The guidance does not establish that all third-party voter assistance is improper. Legitimate assistance remains important for residents with mobility limitations, disabilities or other needs.
Federal officials have emphasized that the decision whether and how to vote belongs to each eligible resident.
Education Department warns against improper student data disclosures
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has directed schools and education agencies to protect students’ private information from unauthorized disclosure to outside political organizations.
The department issued a letter reminding education officials of their responsibilities under federal student privacy law.
The warning concerned the potential transfer of protected student records to organizations involved in political outreach or voter registration activities.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act generally restricts the release of personally identifiable information from protected education records without consent, subject to specified exceptions.
The administration warned that improperly sharing protected records could expose institutions to federal enforcement consequences, including potential funding penalties following required procedures.
The guidance does not impose a general prohibition on lawful voter registration activity involving students. Rather, it focuses on whether schools may disclose protected information without the authorization required by law.
Administration officials argue that educational institutions should not provide confidential student information to political organizations without a lawful basis.
Justice Department examines political nonprofit and motor vehicle data practices
Federal investigators have also examined the use of information gathered by nonprofit organizations involved in political activities.
According to Just the News, the Justice Department has opened an inquiry involving information requested by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg from organizations he supported financially.
The investigation concerns whether information-sharing practices associated with political nonprofits complied with applicable laws.
Zuckerberg previously contributed substantial funding to nonprofit organizations that provided election administration assistance during the 2020 election.
Those contributions became politically contentious, with critics raising concerns about the private financing of election operations and supporters arguing that the assistance helped election offices manage extraordinary demands during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The existence of an inquiry does not establish wrongdoing by Zuckerberg or the organizations involved.
Separately, the Justice Department is seeking information about the alleged use of state motor vehicle records in political voter outreach operations dating to 2020.
The department is examining whether protected information was improperly accessed or used to benefit Democratic get-out-the-vote operations.
State motor vehicle records are subject to privacy restrictions under federal and state laws, including the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.
Some voter registration activities also lawfully involve departments of motor vehicles under federal election law.
Investigators must therefore distinguish between authorized election administration data transfers and any unauthorized use of protected personal information.
No final findings establishing unlawful conduct in the reported inquiries have been presented.
Justice Department warns state election officials about federal law
The Justice Department has also expanded efforts to obtain election records and review state compliance with federal requirements.
According to Just the News, federal officials have sent notices to state election administrators warning that violations of federal election laws could result in enforcement action.
The communications concern voter registration maintenance, access to election records and compliance with federal statutes governing election administration.
The administration maintains that federal enforcement is necessary to identify irregularities and ensure that states comply with their legal obligations.
Some state officials have challenged the scope of those demands, arguing that federal authorities lack the power to compel certain changes in election procedures.
The disagreements have produced litigation, including federal court proceedings concerning voter eligibility records and ballot handling.
In California, the Justice Department sought to have ballots from approximately 20,000 voters it suspected might be noncitizens segregated from other ballots.
A federal judge rejected the request shortly before Election Day, citing concerns that it could disrupt voting operations and prevent eligible voters from having their ballots counted.
California officials disputed the federal government’s allegations and defended their existing voter eligibility procedures.
The Justice Department has said it intends to continue enforcing federal election laws, while the courts remain responsible for resolving disputes over federal and state authority.
Census Bureau considers changes ahead of 2030 count
The Commerce Department is also examining changes to the next decennial census.
According to Just the News, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Census Bureau officials are considering procedures intended to improve the accuracy of population counts and provide more detailed information concerning citizenship.
The administration has criticized errors in the 2020 census and argued that inaccurate counts can affect congressional representation.
Just the News reported an estimate that census errors resulted in at least five additional House seats for Democratic-leaning states.
That partisan seat estimate is not an established finding of the Census Bureau or Government Accountability Office.
The Government Accountability Office’s examination of the 2020 census found that 14 states had statistically significant population-count errors, including both overcounts and undercounts.
Census results determine the allocation of House seats among states and influence federal funding decisions.
Under the Constitution and federal law, House apportionment is based on the population figures used for the decennial census, rather than simply the number of citizens eligible to vote.
Any proposal to alter the population basis for congressional apportionment would therefore raise separate constitutional and legal questions.
The administration has presented its planned changes as an effort to prevent inaccurate population figures from affecting future representation.
CISA shifts election security priorities
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has changed its approach to election-related activities, emphasizing protection against cyberattacks and vulnerabilities in voting infrastructure.
The administration has reduced activities involving the identification and reporting of online election misinformation, arguing that federal cybersecurity agencies should not improperly influence political speech.
Critics have disputed the characterization of previous agency activities and expressed concern that reductions in personnel and election assistance could weaken cybersecurity support for state and local officials.
In September, CISA issued a new election infrastructure security plan outlining protective measures for voting systems.
The plan recommends paper ballots, manual post-election audits, multifactor authentication, stronger access controls and the retention of security logs.
It also identifies potential threats involving unauthorized system access, outdated software, internal security weaknesses and physical attacks.
The September 2026 election security plan was intended to help election administrators evaluate vulnerabilities and strengthen their systems before the midterms.
A vulnerability identified in a voting system does not establish that the weakness was exploited or that election results were changed.
Election security officials have long emphasized the importance of independent audits, testing and physical safeguards to verify that voting equipment operates correctly.
Homeland Security reviews voter records and possible noncitizen registrations
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has expanded the use of its Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system, known as SAVE, to assist state and local election officials with citizenship verification.
The administration says the system has allowed officials to examine millions of voter registration records and identify potentially ineligible registrants.
Just the News reported that federal agencies identified tens of thousands of suspected foreign nationals who had cast ballots, leading to further investigations involving the Justice Department, FBI and Homeland Security.
Those figures should be distinguished from confirmed cases of unlawful voting.
Database comparisons can identify records requiring investigation, but a potential match does not necessarily establish that an individual is a noncitizen or has voted illegally.
For example, a person may have become a naturalized citizen after an older immigration record was created.
A Bipartisan Policy Center analysis published Oct. 5 found that some states using SAVE had experienced significant discrepancies between initial database flags and subsequently verified citizenship status.
In Utah, an audit of more than 2 million voter records identified 27 confirmed noncitizens and 25 probable noncitizens.
In Texas, a review confirmed that 578 of 2,724 voters initially flagged as potentially ineligible were citizens.
The results underscore the importance of verifying individual records before determining that a person is unlawfully registered.
The administration maintains that the expanded database access gives election officials additional tools to identify mistakes, provided the information is reviewed appropriately.
FEMA grant requirements encounter federal court challenges
The Federal Emergency Management Agency introduced election-related conditions affecting the Homeland Security Grant Program, which supports state and local preparedness and security activities.
Under the administration’s plan, jurisdictions seeking certain grants would have been required to meet specified election security requirements.
The conditions included post-election manual audits, ballot reconciliation procedures, citizenship verification and plans for transitioning away from some electronic voting equipment that uses QR codes or barcodes.
The administration argued that election systems constitute critical infrastructure and that federal security funding could be used to encourage stronger safeguards.
Just the News described the initiative as applying to a grant program involving more than $1 billion.
However, the requirements encountered substantial legal opposition.
In September, a federal judge ruled that FEMA could not withhold certain counterterrorism grants solely because state and local governments had not adopted the administration’s election procedures.
The court found that the governing statute did not authorize FEMA to impose those particular requirements as conditions for receiving the grants.
The decision did not prohibit federal funding for legitimate election infrastructure security projects. It concerned the administration’s authority to condition counterterrorism grants on broader changes to routine election administration.
The ruling prevented the contested conditions from being enforced against the plaintiffs, limiting the administration’s ability to implement that portion of its program before Election Day.
Homeland Security refers voting equipment concerns to Justice Department
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has referred concerns about certain electronic voting systems to the Justice Department for further examination.
According to Just the News, the referrals involve voting equipment that records or tabulates selections using QR codes and barcodes.
Some election security advocates argue that voters cannot independently read machine-generated codes and therefore may be unable to verify all information used during electronic tabulation.
The concern is distinct from evidence that a particular voting system has been manipulated.
Systems that generate machine-readable codes may include printed text showing voters their selections, and their security depends on the equipment’s design, testing, certification and auditing procedures.
The administration’s review is intended to determine whether particular systems comply with federal requirements and whether their operation creates vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
No general finding that voting systems using QR codes or barcodes produce inaccurate election results has been established.
The Justice Department’s examination remains part of a broader dispute over the role of electronic voting technology and whether federal authorities should require jurisdictions to move toward hand-marked paper ballots.
States use different systems, including hand-marked paper ballots, ballot-marking devices and optical scanners.
Election officials generally rely on equipment testing, chain-of-custody procedures and post-election audits to verify that systems function properly.
SAVE database used for voter registration maintenance
The final initiative identified by Just the News involves making the SAVE system available without charge to election officials conducting citizenship checks.
The administration says expanded access has helped participating states identify potentially ineligible registrants and remove deceased individuals from voter lists.
Just the News reported that nearly 500,000 deceased individuals had been identified and removed through the program.
The figure should be understood as the report’s characterization of the administration’s results rather than an independently verified count of registrations removed solely because of SAVE.
Voter registration list maintenance involves several data sources and verification procedures, including state vital records, Social Security death information, address updates and other official records.
A deceased person’s name remaining on a registration list does not itself establish that someone used that identity to vote.
Likewise, discrepancies in citizenship databases do not automatically establish that the affected individual is ineligible.
Federal law requires states to maintain accurate voter registration lists while protecting eligible voters against improper removal.
The National Voter Registration Act generally restricts systematic voter removals close to federal elections, providing safeguards against last-minute changes that could affect participation.
The administration has argued that expanded federal database access improves the accuracy of voter records.
Voting rights organizations have cautioned that incorrect matches could result in eligible citizens being challenged or removed if election administrators do not conduct additional verification.
Election monitoring increases as voting approaches
Beyond the 15 measures examined in the Just the News report, the Justice Department has announced plans for an expanded federal election-monitoring operation on Nov. 3.
Officials have described preparations to deploy approximately 1,000 personnel nationwide.
The department says the monitors will focus on compliance with federal law and the protection of lawful voting.
Federal election observers have been used by previous administrations, although their number, responsibilities and geographic deployment have varied.
The administration’s expanded operation comes amid disagreements over election integrity, voter eligibility and federal oversight.
Some state officials have welcomed additional federal assistance, while others have questioned the scope and objectives of the planned monitoring.
The Justice Department maintains that its personnel will not interfere with lawful voting.
The results of the administration’s initiatives will remain subject to legal and operational scrutiny after Election Day, particularly where investigations, rulemaking or litigation remain unresolved.
Election integrity dispute reflects competing priorities
The administration’s election program illustrates the disagreements between advocates of expanded verification requirements and organizations concerned about access to the ballot.
Supporters of the initiatives emphasize the importance of preventing unlawful registrations, strengthening equipment security and conducting independent audits.
They argue that public confidence depends on election administrators demonstrating that only eligible voters participate and that reported results accurately reflect properly cast ballots.
Critics contend that some of the administration’s measures exceed federal authority or risk preventing eligible voters from participating.
They also argue that claims about illegal voting should be evaluated using verified evidence rather than preliminary database matches or the existence of unresolved investigations.
Those disagreements have produced court challenges involving voter registration records, federal grant requirements and proposed changes to election procedures.
Some administration policies have survived judicial review, while others have been blocked or limited.
The legal outcomes are important because the president does not possess unrestricted authority to determine how state and local elections are conducted.
The Constitution establishes a division of responsibilities involving Congress, state legislatures, election officials and the courts.
Federal agencies can enforce laws within their jurisdiction, but new requirements must remain consistent with constitutional and statutory limits.
The administration has also faced questions about whether some measures could be implemented too close to an election without disrupting established procedures.
Judges reviewing those disputes have considered both the federal government’s interest in enforcing election laws and the potential consequences for eligible voters.
For election officials, the immediate challenge is administering Tuesday’s contests under the legal requirements currently in effect.
The nationwide elections will determine control of Congress, numerous state governments and thousands of public offices.
The administration’s broader security program will continue to face scrutiny after the votes are counted, particularly as federal agencies assess vulnerabilities and pursue ongoing investigations.
The 15 initiatives identified by Just the News reflect the Trump administration’s effort to make voter eligibility verification, ballot auditing and election infrastructure security central priorities of federal policy.
Their ultimate effects will depend on implementation, judicial rulings and evidence establishing whether specific measures improve election administration without improperly restricting eligible voters.
As Americans prepare to cast their ballots, the debate remains focused on two responsibilities that election laws must accommodate: protecting the integrity of the vote and ensuring that every eligible citizen can participate.
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