President Trump has completed the first 100 days of his second term, and his administration is making bold moves to undermine voting and elections in the country. The actions taken by the administration have raised concerns about the state of democracy in the United States. Despite the challenges faced, democracy still stands, but it requires vigilant monitoring to protect it. Here are some of the ways in which Trump and his administration are working to dismantle elections and weaken democracy.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) under Trump’s leadership, particularly the Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, is actively challenging voting rights across the country. Dhillon, known for her denial of the 2020 election results, has led efforts to challenge voting rights policies in several states. The civil rights division of the DOJ, under her leadership, has seen a mass exodus of lawyers and senior personnel. Instead of protecting voters’ rights, the DOJ is focusing on debunked conspiracy theories of voter fraud and non-citizen voting.
President Trump signed an executive order requiring voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. This move has faced criticism for potential disenfranchisement of millions of eligible voters, especially marginalized communities. The order also imposed new deadlines for mail-in ballots and mandated states to share their voter rolls with the federal government.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has also been directed by Trump to implement proof-of-citizenship requirements on registration forms. The agency has signaled its intention to comply with Trump’s directives, including linking security grant funding to the absence of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in election operations.
In the realm of election security, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) has faced significant funding cuts and program cancellations under Trump’s administration. These cutbacks have raised concerns about the agency’s ability to safeguard elections from disinformation and foreign interference.
The U.S. Census Bureau has also been targeted by President Trump, with efforts to remove questions about gender identity from surveys and terminate federal advisory committees critical to accurate and inclusive census counts. The elimination of these committees has sparked concerns about the Bureau’s ability to conduct a fair and comprehensive census.
It is crucial to pay attention to these developments and take action to protect democracy. Advocacy for science-based recommendations, attending town halls, and joining campaigns to support science and scientists are some ways to hold elected officials accountable and safeguard democracy. It is essential to stand up for fair elections, voting rights, and accurate census data to ensure equitable representation and resource allocation in the country.
