politics
President Trump Seeks Stricter Voter ID Rules Ahead of 2026 Midterms
President Trump has directed federal agencies to pursue new voter identification requirements and other election administration changes before the November midterms. The moves follow earlier court rulings that limited parts of the Voting Rights Act.
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The requirements come after the Supreme Court limited sections of the Voting Rights Act in prior rulings. Federal agencies have also issued search warrants targeting voting activists and election officials in some Democratic-leaning counties.
The Supreme Court ruled in recent years that election practices resulting in discrimination are legal unless plaintiffs prove intentional discrimination. Southern and some northern state legislatures responded by enacting new voter restrictions including shortened voting hours, limits on mail ballots, and voter roll purges.
These measures reduced minority voting rates compared with white voters in both regions, according to voting data.
Thursday, approximately 100 federal agents served search warrants on an Ohio voter registration group. The Texas attorney general has filed lawsuits against some Democratic-leaning Latino organizations under state laws that criminalize certain political activities.
The Department of Justice has advocated expanded voter purges that would remove some qualified minority voters. The FBI recently took 2020 election records from Fulton County, Georgia.
