RELEASE: State Democrats are Fortifying Elections Against Trump’s Threats

As Trump & Republicans threaten election interference ahead of the midterms, Democrats in state legislatures are shoring up access to the ballot box

WASHINGTON — Election interference has become a mainstay of the Republican Party, and Trump continues to ratchet up his threats against elections as November nears, but state Democrats aren’t letting those threats go unanswered. As the midterms approach, Democrats in state legislatures across the country have advanced state-level Voting Rights Acts, protected mail-in voting, barred federal agents from polling places, and expanded early voting.

Together, these actions underscore a clear contrast: Democrats are working to expand and protect access to the ballot box, while Republicans are pursuing policies that sow chaos and suppress votes.

Democratic-led states are leading the fight against MAGA election interference and voter suppression by:

Preventing voter intimidation and federal interference in elections

• Democrats in New Mexico enacted a ban this spring on armed federal agents in polling places, becoming the first state to pass such legislation.
• Connecticut enacted a law to prevent intimidation by prohibiting law enforcement from being within 250 feet of voting-related locations without election officials’ permission.
• In Colorado, Democrats passed legislation to prohibit interference with voting via a 100-foot “buffer zone” around drop boxes and voting sites. The legislation can also empower the governor to declare an emergency to allow elections to proceed should disruptions arise.

Defending voter information and election integrity

• California Democrats passed a law to strengthen election protections by prohibiting unauthorized access to voting information/technology and increasing protections against illegal seizures of ballots. Additionally, Democrats are advancing legislation to make it a felony to seize ballots before election officials have certified them.
• Washington Democrats passed legislation to protect voter information from the Trump administration’s Department of Justice.

Protecting and expanding voter access

• To protect voters’ access to the ballot box, 4 Democratic-led states have passed or amended their Voting Rights Acts since Trump was elected for his second term.
• In New Jersey and Virginia, early voting periods were extended, and voters’ ability to correct common mail-in ballot submission errors was expanded.

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:

“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. While Trump and his corrupt GOP allies try to upend elections, suppress votes, and dodge accountability from voters, Democrats in state legislatures are working overtime to ensure our elections run smoothly and all votes are counted. As the midterms near, state Democrats are on the frontlines of protecting and advancing voting rights and shaping election certification and administration. State legislatures are where the fight for our democracy will be won or lost, and electing more state Democrats will ensure every American’s voice is heard in our elections.”

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) leads the national strategy to secure Democratic power in our state legislatures. We are the campaign arm for more than 3,000 state legislators and thousands of candidates across all 50 states who are advancing Democratic values and standing up to the dangerous MAGA agenda every single day. Over the last decade, our work has flipped 10 new chamber majorities. Those new majorities have ensured Democrats in state legislatures are positioned to protect our democracy and fundamental rights, while addressing the high cost of living and advancing opportunities. The DLCC’s national strategy and target map continue to pinpoint the most efficient paths to Democratic power across all 50 states. 

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