On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti A stress test for the midterms
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Feb 23, 2026 Michael McNulty, policy director at Issue One and former USAID elections adviser, explains how election-denial tactics and federal power grabs could stress U.S. voting. He breaks down laws like the SAVE Act and MEGA, names officials spreading doubt, and describes steps to protect local election workers and democratic processes.
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Executive Branch Acting Like A Virus
- U.S. election institutions are resilient but under a new internal stress from the executive branch.
- Michael McNulty compares the executive acting like a virus that tests institutional guardrails by placing election deniers in key roles.
SAVE Act Risks Mass Disenfranchisement
- The SAVE Act would impose documentary proof of citizenship for federal registration and frequent re-verification after moves or name changes.
- University of Maryland research found 21 million Americans lack easy access to required documents, risking large-scale disenfranchisement.
Zimbabwe Example Of Registration Manipulation
- Zimbabwe under Mugabe used voter registration manipulation to advantage rural pro-government voters and disadvantage urban opposition voters.
- Civil society analysis showed rural registration drives and fewer urban centers produced repeated ruling party victories.