US election officials prepare for possible federal interference ahead of midterms

US election officials are preparing for possible political interference and disruption ahead of the November midterm elections, following President Donald Trump’s criticism of the Supreme Court after it rejected his plan to restrict mail-in voting.

The ruling allows states to continue administering mail-in and absentee voting under existing procedures. Trump said the justices were no longer the court he had interviewed to serve, while political analysts and some officials have raised concerns about possible further federal action before the elections.

A Reuters investigation cited by Al Jazeera found that more than a dozen state and local election officials were hiring outside lawyers or seeking legal training for themselves and their staff. The measures are intended to prepare for potential demands for access to sensitive voting records or election equipment.

Nearly twice that number of officials said they were expanding public outreach and social-media campaigns to counter misinformation. Their concerns include potential ballot seizures, voter-fraud investigations, cyberattacks and intimidation.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Brennan Center for Justice have challenged the administration’s voting measures, arguing that authority over federal elections rests primarily with the states and Congress. A bipartisan group of 261 current and former members of Congress made a similar argument in a brief to the Supreme Court.

The White House has rejected claims that it is seeking to interfere in the midterms, saying its actions are intended to prevent illegal voting and protect confidence in the electoral system. The administration has also pursued access to state voter-registration lists, with the Brennan Center reporting that 11 states have complied or agreed to comply while lawsuits have been filed against 20 others.