Immigration raids, election office search stir midterm concerns for Democratic election officials

Democratic Election Officials Raise Concerns About Federal Interference Ahead of Midterms

Democratic election officials across the United States are intensifying preparations for potential federal interference in upcoming midterm elections, following recent immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota and an FBI search at a Georgia election office.

During Thursday’s annual gathering of state election officials, several Democratic secretaries of state revealed they have begun developing contingency plans for various scenarios in which the Trump administration might attempt to disrupt election processes. Their concerns range from immigration agents appearing at polling places to possible seizures of voting equipment.

“It’s no longer just about making sure everyone gets their ballots and those ballots are counted securely,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor. “There’s now an election security component that involves this type of scenario planning, also in response to the fact that the Trump administration, very clearly, is planting seeds to potentially interfere in our elections in the future.”

These concerns have been heightened by Thursday’s FBI search of an Atlanta-area election center, where federal agents seized ballots and other records related to the 2020 election. The search has reignited President Trump’s persistent and false claims about widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

Benson explained that her office is coordinating with officials across Michigan to prepare for crisis scenarios that now include potential bomb threats and ICE agents at polling locations. “This is how we deter, this is how we mitigate, this is when we go to court, this is when we need law enforcement to show up and help us protect, this is when we don’t,” she said of her instructions to local election officials.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is taking similar precautions, revamping contingency plans and conducting disaster simulations with the state’s governor, attorney general, and county clerks. In an interview before the conference, she expressed particular concern about the administration’s dismantling of efforts to track election interference and foreign meddling.

Griswold also voiced worries about potential changes to the U.S. Postal Service, which has already taken steps that concern officials in states that rely heavily on mail-in ballots. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on these concerns.

The administration’s recent actions have created additional anxiety. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urging him to share voter rolls as part of efforts to “help bring back law and order” in the state, which has experienced widespread protests over increased immigration enforcement and the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens by federal agents.

Additionally, the Justice Department has filed lawsuits against at least 23 states and the District of Columbia seeking detailed voter information, including names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. State officials who have resisted these requests, primarily Democrats, argue they violate state and federal privacy laws.

“That idea of using police force to push policy is un-American,” Griswold stated.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows expressed confidence that federal law would protect states from extreme actions, particularly if armed federal agents appear near polling places. “That won’t be a hard case,” she said. However, she worries that increased immigration enforcement activities might deter eligible voters from casting ballots.

“If people are too afraid to leave their homes to go get groceries, they’re going to be too afraid to go vote if ICE or other federal agents are patrolling the streets,” Bellows explained.

The potential collision between aggressive law enforcement and election processes has also alarmed members of Congress. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia voiced his concern plainly: “I don’t want roving gangs of ICE showing up at polling stations. That would obviously intimidate voters.”

The situation highlights growing tensions between federal authorities and state election officials as the midterm elections approach, with state officials working to safeguard voting rights while preparing for unprecedented challenges to electoral processes.