Protect the Integrity of 2026 Elections

I write to express urgent and well-documented concerns about actions and rhetoric coming from the federal government that pose a threat to the integrity, fairness, and public confidence in the upcoming 2026 U.S. midterm elections. 1. Threats to Electoral Integrity Earlier this month, President Donald Trump publicly floated the idea of canceling the 2026 elections, before insisting the comments were rhetorical. Experts note that federal law does not permit a president to cancel or postpone these elections, which are set for November 3, 2026 and are administered by the states under the Constitution and federal statutes.  Comments suggesting that lawful elections might be canceled — even hypothetically — undermine core democratic norms and erode confidence in the electoral process. 2. Federal Lawsuits Seeking Sensitive Voter Data The U.S. Department of Justice has filed dozens of lawsuits against states that refused to turn over detailed voter registration data, including names, addresses, birth dates, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. This campaign now includes at least 23 states and Washington, D.C. and has expanded rapidly in recent months.  State election officials and civil rights groups have raised genuine privacy concerns about sharing such information and the possibility that sensitive data could be misused.  3. Ongoing Concerns About Federal Interference Across recent reporting, election officials and democracy advocates have warned about efforts from the federal executive branch to influence election practices and the administration’s broader approach to election administration.  While federal authority over state election law is limited, aggressive pursuit of voter data and public rhetoric attacking election legitimacy increase the risk of confusion, litigation, and loss of voter confidence. Requests for Congressional Action I urge you to support appropriate actions by Congress to: • Affirm unequivocally that the federal government has no authority to cancel or postpone state-run elections or to interfere directly in how elections are conducted. • Ensure federal election law protects the privacy and integrity of voter registration information and prohibits its use for purposes unrelated to legitimate law enforcement or election administration. • Conduct robust oversight of executive branch activities related to elections, including any data requests or litigation strategies that could affect access to the ballot or public confidence in the election outcomes. These steps are necessary to preserve public trust and the constitutional principle that the people — not the federal executive — determine the outcome of our elections. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.