Election experts and critics fear President Donald Trump could declare a national security emergency before the November midterm elections, potentially seeking greater federal control over voting. The concern follows administration document releases, claims involving non-citizen voting and foreign interference, and Trump’s refusal to rule out an emergency declaration. Former strategist Steve Bannon said preparations should be made for the final week of August and argued an emergency declaration was needed.

Experts say an emergency declaration would not override constitutional limits on presidential authority over election administration, and no US president has previously tried to directly control voting through such a declaration. Lawyer Aria Branch said the administration appeared to be seeking a legal basis for centralized election control, while voter-rights leader Santiago Mayer urged preparation for possible actions. Democratic lawmakers and civic groups are also considering risks including AI-generated fake videos and ICE personnel at polling places.

The administration has released records about voting systems and alleged foreign interference while promoting claims about non-citizen voters. The White House declined to discuss hypothetical emergency scenarios and backed the proposed Save America Act, which would expand federal access to voter rolls and tighten voting rules. Branch said legal challenges could block measures that exceed executive authority.