Marc Elias on Trump's Executive Order Targeting Election Integrity

Trump's Executive Order on Election Integrity

• 🎯 Donald Trump has issued an executive order focused on election integrity, described as the most far-reaching executive action in the Republic's history.
• ⚠️ Marc Elias expresses concern, stating Trump is bringing an "unhinged dictatorial energy" to voting rights, issuing executive orders he may not have the authority for.
• 🤖 Some parts of the executive order are difficult to understand, with speculation that parts were dictated by Trump and then processed through an AI chatbot.
• ⚡ Trump intends to issue more executive orders in the coming weeks, signaling a continued attack on free and fair elections.

Trump's Strategic Goal for Elections

• 📅 The primary goal is to restrict voting to a single day, eliminating early voting and mail-in voting.
• 👥 A secondary goal is to determine who gets to vote, moving beyond objective tests to subjective determinations by Trump and his allies.
• 🚩 This includes empowering voter challenges and requiring proof of citizenship, which can be used to disenfranchise voters.
• 🗳️ The ultimate focus will be on who gets to count the votes and how elections are certified.

Federal vs. State Authority in Elections

• ⚖️ The administration of elections is constitutionally a state prerogative, not a federal one.
• ⚠️ The risk is that Trump may assert federal authority over state election decisions, potentially withdrawing federal funding from states that do not comply.
• 🏛️ While federal agencies are established by law, Trump's actions suggest a disregard for established processes and a desire to unilaterally decide election matters.

Proactive Steps to Protect Elections

• 🗣️ Citizens and media must not concede power Trump does not have, emphasizing that election administration is a state function.
• ⚖️ There must be readiness to litigate against Trump's actions, involving private litigation and state Attorneys General.
• 🤝 State officials must firmly reject federal intrusion into election matters, asserting that elections are not up for negotiation.

Supporting Election Integrity Efforts

• 📢 The Democracy Docket is highlighted as a crucial resource for information on voting and elections.
• ✍️ Signing up for Democracy Docket is presented as a concrete step individuals can take to support the fight for election integrity.