Overview
- FBI agents seized roughly 700 boxes of ballots and records from Fulton County’s elections center, drawing criticism over Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s reported presence at the operation.
- Democrats including Adam Schiff and Hakeem Jeffries say the president is signaling plans to interfere with the 2026 midterms, citing calls to “nationalize” election administration and openness to ICE near polling places.
- Steve Bannon urged deploying ICE to “surround the polls,” which elections attorney Marc Elias called illegal as he pledged rapid lawsuits to block any such intimidation tactics.
- Experts warn of a more likely tactic of seizing ballots through court-approved warrants in targeted locales, though former DOJ official Justin Levitt and others say courts, logistics and political resistance limit a broad takeover.
- The Democracy Docket outlines proposals to curb federal interference, including barring federal law enforcement within 500 feet of voting and counting sites, restricting election-related investigations around Election Day, and tightening rules on who can seek election warrants; prior executive actions on mail-ballot counting and voting machine decertification are also fueling concern.