Concerns Over Voting Integrity Ahead of Midterm Elections

As midterm elections loom, the Honest Elections Project (HEP) is sounding alarms about significant vulnerabilities in the voting system, raising issues like non-referendum votes and foreign interference. With the landscape of Congress, as well as President Trump’s legislative goals, hanging in the balance, HEP fears now is the “last chance” for state legislatures to enact crucial reforms that ensure trust in the electoral process.

In a report shared with various outlets, HEP outlines 14 primary weaknesses in election integrity that it believes require urgent attention before the upcoming elections. A notable point made is that vast sums—potentially hundreds of millions—of foreign-related funding have influenced voting mechanisms across 26 states.

In one notable case, Minnesota’s elections are under scrutiny due to worries about non-citizen voting, particularly as a House investigation unfolds. This concern is rooted in the observation that while foreign donations to political candidates are prohibited, loopholes exist that allow indirect contributions to shape voting campaigns. HEP is particularly wary of influence from “hostile foreign powers,” such as China and Russia.

To tackle these issues, HEP is advocating for the Foreign Financing of Voting Measures Act. This proposed legislation would close off avenues for both direct and indirect foreign funding in voting initiatives. It would require organizations to certify that they have no foreign support to qualify for participation, imposing strict penalties for any violations.

Moreover, HEP reports a troubling trend in several major cities, like Washington, D.C., and New York, where rights are being extended to noncitizens and undocumented immigrants. This opens a complicated dialogue about the definition of voting rights, especially since many state constitutions broadly declare that “any” or “all” citizens are eligible to vote.

Highlighting more challenges, HEP explains that existing federal law allows dishonest individuals to falsely claim citizenship on voter registration forms, which complicates the issue further. They are urging states to amend their constitutions to explicitly limit voting rights to citizens. Language supporting this restriction has already passed in 15 states, including Alabama, Florida, and Wisconsin.

Additionally, HEP is promoting the adoption of documentary citizenship laws, necessitating proof of citizenship for voters. The proposed measures would also classify it as a crime for noncitizens to register or for election officials to process registrations without proof of citizenship.

HEP endorses several model bills aimed at tackling various aspects of electoral integrity, including the Nonresident Act and the Procedural Election Audit Act. These initiatives intend to offer lawmakers structured proposals to fight against electoral fraud.

Jason Snead, Executive Director of HEP, commented that while states have made strides in improving access to voting and reducing fraud, challenges remain. “State legislators have one final opportunity to strengthen election laws before the critically important 2026 midterm elections,” he said, emphasizing the project’s role in guiding legislators toward enhancing election integrity.