Trump ousts bipartisan commission in latest effort to reshape elections before midterm

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Set us as preferred WASHINGTON — President Trump dismissed all remaining members of the bipartisan U.S.Elections Assistance Commission this week, his latest move to assert control over national elections in the final months before midterm voting.The White House defended the move as justified by a recent U.S.

Supreme Court decision handing the president greater authority to reshape independent government agencies, including by replacing appointed leaders.Democrats and some independent elections experts blasted it as politically motivated, counter to the interests of voters and foolhardy with the November election so close.“Purging commissioners just months before the midterm elections and further gutting support for our state and local elections officials is a blatant part of his plan to politicize our elections and enable more unlawful and dangerous election interference,” said Sen.Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee, which oversees federal elections.Padilla alleged the dismissals are an attempt by Trump “to dismantle yet another independent guardrail of our democracy designed to keep elections fair and secure.”A White House official framed the dismissals in starkly different terms, saying the departing commissioners were “not totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted.” It did not say when the president planned to appoint new commissioners.

Politics Local elections administrators across California say they have been preparing for once unthinkable threats to the midterms, from their own federal government.The four-member commission was created by Congress in 2002 as part of the Help America Vote Act to help states improve their voting systems and voter access.By law, no more than two commissioners may b...