Late on Thursday, Donald Trump removed members of a bipartisan federal election commission who had resisted his efforts to require voters to show proof of US citizenship before registering. The White House confirmed the action against members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to the Associated Press on Friday.
What the Election Assistance Commission does
The EAC distributes federal grants to states, oversees the testing of voting systems, and maintains the national voter registration form. This commission plays a critical role in ensuring election integrity and uniformity across states.
“The President, and head of the Executive Branch, reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted. The Slaughter decision gives the President precedence to do so,” said a White House statement to AP.
Impact on midterms and executive power
The move is not expected to have a major effect on the November midterms, but it marks the latest instance of Trump trying to exert influence over US elections. It also represents the first test of his expanded executive powers stemming from a recent US Supreme Court ruling, which has broadened presidential authority over independent agencies.
Backlash from Democrats and advocates
Backlash has been swift. Voting rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers decried the move. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump’s action “a brazen attempt to seize control of our elections before a single vote is cast” and said Senate Democrats will fight this move.
The Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank promoting bipartisanship, noted that the EAC has often operated without a quorum, leaving it unable to exercise its full authority. However, the center described Trump’s move as “unprecedented.”
State election officials respond
Democrats who run elections in their states expressed concern over how the firings of EAC commissioners could affect their jobs and, in turn, voters. Nonetheless, they emphasized that their offices are prepared and ready to administer elections regardless of the federal shake-up.
