By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Despite past successful elections, a new threat to free and fair elections has emerged: the federal government’s efforts to undermine the process. The Trump administration has launched a campaign including actions like gutting election security agencies and seeking access to voter information. These efforts are unprecedented and potentially illegal, with the goal of discrediting election results and gaining control over the system. While past elections withstood great pressure, vigilance, courage, and determination are needed to defend democracy in the face of these actions, with voters ultimately holding the final say.
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Donald J. Trump is the leading threat to US election integrity, and that’s becoming increasingly clear. The evidence points to a systematic effort to undermine the foundations of fair elections, going far beyond mere rhetoric. The former President isn’t just making claims of a rigged system; he is actively working to dismantle the safeguards that protect it.
One of the most alarming aspects is the deliberate weakening of institutions designed to ensure election security. Agencies that provide crucial support to states have been gutted, their expert staff purged. At the same time, efforts are underway to gain access to sensitive voter information, ostensibly in the name of fraud detection, but with the potential for abuse and intimidation. There are also attempts to block voting machines, and demanding the government provide access to voter rolls.
This pattern of behavior extends beyond these specific actions. The attempts to rewrite history and persecute those who didn’t go along with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election further highlights the danger. The former president isn’t content to simply criticize the process; he wants to control it. The appointment of election deniers to top positions within the Justice Department is a stark indication of this, signaling a shift toward weaponizing the executive branch against those who disagree.
The actions speak for themselves; an executive order tried to require Americans to produce a passport or the equivalent to register to vote in federal elections—documents that millions of citizens just don’t have. The White House has supported Republicans in the Texas State Legislature in their effort to adopt one of the most gerrymandered congressional maps in the nation’s history. Politicians choosing their voters rather than the other way around. The precedent being set here is dangerous. The President recently visited the Justice Department, where he declared that the people behind the “crooked” 2020 election “should go to jail.” Prosecution task forces have been established in Washington, D.C. and New Jersey. These federal officials are looking to bring charges against state election officials. The president already issued executive orders targeting a former high-level government official and others for their work to protect elections and voting rights.
This is not just about one election. It’s about reshaping the entire process to favor a particular outcome, a specific political party. From gerrymandering to voter suppression tactics, the strategy is to rig the system before a single vote is even cast. The potential consequences of this are devastating, threatening the very principles of democracy and the legitimacy of our government.
The reality is, as soon as he loses an election he cries out about being cheated and starts sowing the seeds of distrust. The only acceptable outcome is a victory for Donald Trump. The election is always fair when you win, and always rigged when you lose. That goes for Republicans and Democrats. Pretty much.
The focus should not be on the man alone. The network of supporters and the underlying ideologies driving this movement must also be acknowledged. Christian Nationalism and the forces behind Project 2025 and similar conservative organizations play a significant role in this process. They are often working to undermine election integrity while they push their agenda. This goes beyond one individual; it’s a well-organized effort, and the root cause will still be here in full bloom after he is gone.
It’s crucial to recognize that this isn’t about partisanship, but about defending the fundamental right to free and fair elections. Any attempts to undermine the integrity of the voting process pose a threat to American democracy and the principles upon which it was founded. Trump’s not just whining about “fraud” anymore he’s actively trying to take control of the machinery of our elections. Gutting election security agencies, demanding voter rolls, pushing insane voter ID requirements, backing extreme gerrymanders… this isn’t about fairness, it’s about rigging the system before a single vote is cast.
The Constitution leaves election administration to the states for a reason. Presidents don’t get to pick who votes or how votes are counted. If we let this slide, we’re basically saying it’s fine for a president to tilt the playing field in their own favor. That’s authoritarian 101, and it has to be stopped at the ballot box and in the courts.