With the November 2026 midterm elections just six weeks away, the Trump administration is intensifying its efforts to protect the ballot. Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter told reporters Tuesday that the Department of Justice will take “aggressive actions” to secure the vote and prevent fraud.
New Enforcement Actions
Over the past four weeks the DOJ has charged 32 non‑citizens with unlawful voting and registration offenses, bringing the total number of such prosecutions in the second Trump administration to 70. McCotter highlighted the contrast with the prior administration, which charged only 13 non‑citizens over four years. “In the last four weeks we’ve brought almost three times as many as the prior administration did in four years,” he said, adding that the earlier administration “turned a blind eye and refused to protect our nation’s electoral integrity.”
Postal Service Audits and State Cooperation
The Justice Department is also coordinating with the U.S. Postal Service, which will send auditors to verify that postal facilities are complying with ballot‑collection standards and election law. McCotter urged states to join the effort, noting that some jurisdictions have made it easier for fraudulent registrations. “New Jersey, for example, recently admitted 6,600 aliens had been improperly registered to vote, and hundreds of them actually voted,” he warned.
Legislative Action: The SAVE America Act
Republicans are pushing the SAVE America Act, now pending in the Senate after passing the House. The bill would require a valid photo ID for federal elections, proof of citizenship for voter registration, in‑person registration for federal contests, and a nationwide purge of non‑citizens from voter rolls. Supporters argue the legislation will give Republicans a decisive advantage in the 2026 midterms by preventing fraud in states with weak election security.
Democratic Criticism
Democratic members of Congress have accused the administration of stoking fear. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D‑MD) called the DOJ’s statements “misinformation and anxiety” during a House voting‑rights forum. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D‑PA) charged President Donald Trump with “trying to undermine voters’ faith in our elections” and labeled the SAVE America Act a “voter suppression bill.” Democrats contend that illegal voting is rare and that stricter ID requirements could disenfranchise rural, disabled, and low‑income Americans.
Fact‑Check on Fraud Claims
An August 2026 U.S. Census Bureau report found little evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. After cross‑checking data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Social Security Administration, the IRS and other agencies, the bureau concluded with high confidence that roughly 24,000 of the 128 million votes analyzed were cast by non‑citizens – a number far too small to have altered the presidential outcome.
Law‑Enforcement Results
Matthew Milholland, deputy head of Homeland Security Investigations, said his office has generated more than 1,600 voter‑fraud cases, leading to over 160 arrests. “The broader scope of this election‑integrity initiative is about enforcing federal law, protecting lawful voting and other official processes from criminal exploitation,” he told reporters.
While critics continue to challenge the administration’s approach, the Justice Department’s recent actions demonstrate a clear commitment to safeguarding the upcoming midterms and ensuring that every lawful vote is counted.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
