1A 'If You Can Keep It': Election Integrity And The Upcoming Midterms
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Feb 9, 2026 
Lawrence Norden, elections law expert at the Brennan Center. Jessica Huseman, on-the-ground election reporter at VoteBeat. Nick Corasaniti, NYT national politics reporter covering voting. Seth Blustein, Philadelphia elections official. They discuss the Fulton County ballot seizure, rising threats and burnout among local election staff, federal vs state roles in running elections, and how decentralization and resources shape election integrity.
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Local Officials Fear Chain-Of-Custody Loss
- Fulton County officials said the seizure shattered chain-of-custody and left them worried about lost control over records.
- They fear similar actions could be taken elsewhere and spotlight their office in a damaging way.
Eroded Trust Raises Alarm Over Federal Calls
- Routine federal briefings by FBI and CISA now alarm locals because of recent raids and threats from the White House.
- Trust between federal agencies and state/local election officials has eroded, complicating coordination.
States Hold Constitutional Election Authority
- The Constitution vests election administration with states, not the president, though Congress can pass overriding laws.
- States and locals remain the primary line of defense for free and fair elections.