Election Officials Must Guard Their Systems — Including from Federal Overreach | Pamela Smith/Democracy Docket

State and local officials are the stewards of our democracy. Elections are run by these trusted professionals in our communities, not by the federal government. They register voters, count ballots and certify the results. And when it comes to safeguarding equipment, they simply cannot allow unauthorized access — even if that request comes directly from the White House.Right now, these barriers are being tested. In Colorado, the U.S. Department of Justice recently made a sweeping and unprecedented demand for access to state voter information. A political consultant, claiming to be working on behalf of the White House, also called several county clerks to gain access to their voting equipment. Read Article

 

Trump canceling elections? Democrats increasingly sound alarm bells. | Aaron Blake/CNN

When President Donald Trump sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month, the topic was the weighty issue of ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But at one point, Trump took a provocative diversion into domestic politics. Zelensky noted that, in his country, the law doesn’t allow for elections during periods of martial law. “So you say during the war, you can’t have elections,” Trump responded. “So let me just say, three and a half years from now – so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections? Oh, that’s good.” Laughter ensued. Trump wondered aloud what the “fake news” would do with his comment. Read Article