Speak Up Against Federal Interference With Our Elections

I am your constituent, and I am asking you to take five specific actions to protect the independence and integrity of the 2026 midterm elections. With Election Day fast approaching, Congress cannot wait until after voters have cast their ballots to address potential federal overreach or intimidation. I am asking your office to respond in writing with the specific steps you will take. I urge you to: 1. Publicly state whether you support or oppose deploying ICE or other armed federal personnel at or near polling places, and call on the Department of Homeland Security to confirm in writing that it will not do so. 2. Call on the administration to promptly submit nominees for the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for Senate confirmation, and commit to holding timely hearings once nominees are submitted. 3. Request a Government Accountability Office or Inspector General investigation into the removal of EAC commissioners and the effect of those vacancies on election administration and security ahead of November. 4. Publicly oppose any executive action that attempts to override state authority over election administration without congressional authorization, consistent with Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution. The Elections Clause assigns states responsibility for establishing the times, places, and manner of congressional elections, while expressly giving Congress—not the Executive Branch—the authority to alter those rules by law. 5. Take direct congressional oversight action before Election Day. Specifically, I ask you to request a hearing in the appropriate committee, send formal requests for documents and communications to DHS, DOJ, the White House, and other relevant agencies, and require responsible federal officials to testify about any plans to deploy federal personnel at or near polling places or otherwise intervene in state election administration. If the evidence warrants it, I ask you to pursue additional legislative or appropriations measures to prevent unauthorized federal interference with the administration of elections. These requests are prompted by serious developments concerning federal involvement in election administration. In July 2026, the EAC lost its remaining commissioners. Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland served until July 9, while Christy McCormick also left the commission that month. The EAC’s own records now list all three as former commissioners. At the same time, public statements and federal actions concerning polling places, voter-roll maintenance, and state election officials have raised questions about whether federal power could be used to pressure or intimidate those responsible for administering elections. I am not asking you to prejudge ongoing litigation or declare that any particular action constitutes unlawful voter intimidation. I am asking you to use Congress’s constitutional powers now—through hearings, document requests, testimony, legislation, and control of federal funding—to establish clear limits on federal involvement in state and local election administration before Election Day. Article I, Section 4 expressly gives Congress a role in regulating congressional elections. That authority makes congressional oversight particularly important when questions arise about the Executive Branch’s role in administering or influencing those elections. Our elections should be administered according to law, with clear lines of authority and without political pressure or intimidation. The 2026 midterms are approaching quickly. Please act before Election Day—not after it—and respond in writing with the specific congressional actions you will take, including whether you will request a hearing, seek records from federal agencies, require testimony from responsible officials, and pursue legislation or other measures if warranted.