Right now, our freedom to vote is facing a coordinated attack on multiple fronts. The Trump administration and its allies at every level of government are abusing their power to sow chaos and doubt ahead of the midterms. They are weaponizing the federal government against voters: trying to restrict mail voting, demanding Americans’ sensitive voter data, using federal agents to intimidate communities, discouraging eligible voters from voting with deliberately confusing messages about voter eligibility, and threatening to interfere with how votes are cast, counted, and certified.

But the Constitution is clear: No president has the power to unilaterally change election laws. And no official at any level can override the results. Our elections are run by state and local election officials under laws that bind every official, and the results are decided by the voters. Our democracy belongs to the people.

The ACLU is ready. This year, we built the largest election safeguarding program in our history, with more than $24.5 million invested and thousands of staff, volunteers, supporters, and legal and organizing teams on the ground across the country. We are ready to protect voters before, during, and after Election Day, and stop any attempts by President Donald Trump or other officials at any level of government to abuse their power to undermine our democracy. Since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, we have already taken more than 80 legal actions — including over 40 against the Trump administration itself. And we're achieving significant wins for voters, including at the Supreme Court, which this month let stand an order blocking the administration's attempt to weaponize the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) against mail voting.

Below, ACLU experts answer some of your most pressing questions about election interference, what we’re doing to safeguard the midterm elections, and what you can do to make sure your vote counts.

We’re fighting to make sure every eligible voter can register, cast a ballot, and have that ballot counted without unnecessary barriers standing in the way. That means taking on restrictive laws in court and working with communities to make sure voters have the information and resources they need to participate.

This year, we’ve already seen important victories. In New Hampshire, we successfully challenged a law requiring voters to provide citizen documentation when registering, as well as other new barriers that could have prevented eligible voters from casting a ballot. A federal court struck down the law and blocked it from taking effect in the 2026 elections. In Montana, we successfully blocked a law that would have cut eight hours from Election Day voter registration, protecting a critical voting option that is especially important for Native voters in rural and reservation communities.

Our work doesn’t stop in the courtroom. In Congress, we’re fighting the so-called SAVE America Act, which would require Americans to produce citizenship documents like a passport or birth certificate to register to vote, and would expand federal involvement in voter registration. Millions of eligible citizens don't have those documents on hand, and this bill would put additional hurdles between them and the ballot box.

And in communities across the country, we’re helping voters understand their options, make a voting plan, and navigate the process, including hosting joyful early voting events for voters who prefer to vote in person. The goal is simple: Eligible voters should be able to exercise their fundamental right to vote with confidence and without unnecessary obstacles standing in their way.

Absolutely not. And the ACLU, alongside our partners, will make sure of that. The Constitution is crystal clear: The president has no authority to rewrite our election rules — that power belongs to the states and Congress alone. And courts have already agreed with us. No declaration of emergency and no assertion of executive power gives any president license to ignore the Constitution, interfere with elections, or undermine the rights of voters.

The presidency has limits. President Trump cannot cancel elections. His threats to do so are an attempt to suppress turnout by confusing and distracting voters. We can’t let the empty threats of the Trump administration and its allies distract us. We will challenge unlawful actions in court when necessary. Courts can act quickly to prevent election disruptions and protect voters’ rights, as they have to protect mail voting. We are prepared to use every tool at our disposal — in the courts, in statehouses and in communities — to protect voters and ensure elections are administered according to law. We will not allow politicians to weaponize their power against voters or undermine the fair elections our democracy depends on.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has demanded sensitive voter data, including names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers, without clearly explaining how that information will be used or protected. About a dozen states have handed it over. But most have refused, and when the DOJ sued them to force the issue, it has lost every case decided so far.

Here’s what’s critical to know now, as voters are starting to cast their ballots for the midterms: Whether your state shared your data doesn't change anything about your voter registration. Only your state can remove you from the rolls, and federal law bars states from systematically purging voters in the 90 days before a federal election. That window is in effect now.

The ACLU is fighting on every front. Since October 2025, the ACLU has intervened or participated as a friend of the court in more than two dozen of the 31 cases that the Department of Justice has brought to seize states’ voter data, representing voters and civil rights organizations. So far, 25 of the DOJ’s lawsuits have been dismissed, and voter data in these states remains protected. Representing voting rights groups, we and our partners sued to block the Department of Justice from illegally stockpiling millions of Americans’ confidential voter data and creating a national voter database to surveil and purge voters in April. Not only are the department’s actions illegal, but they are part of a broader effort to interfere with how elections are administered and undermine voters’ ability to make their voices heard

Voters should not have to worry that their personal information could be exposed, misused, or used to justify voter challenges and purges. These cases are about protecting voters’ privacy and ensuring that federal officials cannot overstep their authority and put eligible voters’ access to the ballot at risk.

Yes, voting by mail remains a trusted and reliable method for voting! You can still receive and return your ballot through the mail as permitted by the laws of your state. That has not changed. President Trump's attempts to restrict mail voting have been blocked this election cycle, thanks to our ongoing legal fight. Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court itself joined other courts in letting stand a court order blocking the Trump Administration’s attempt to weaponize USPS for the November 2026 elections.

So yes, voters can still cast mail ballots — and they can do so under the longstanding rules that they have been relying upon. Voting by mail is a proven, secure method of voting that we strongly support. As a best practice, we recommend requesting and returning your ballot as early as possible. And if your state has secure drop boxes, we recommend using one as a convenient way to drop off your ballot and ensure it is returned on time.

We fought and won in court to protect mail voting for this November, and we're making sure voters know every option available to them. As election day approaches, check your registration, make your voting plan, and consider several options for voting, including early and mail voting options which vary by state.

First and foremost, vote. Your rights don’t change because federal agents are in your community. Federal law, and many state laws, protect voters from intimidation. The presence of armed federal agents at the polls is illegal, as is the deployment of ICE, other federal officials, U.S. military, or National Guard troops to interfere with elections and the right to vote.

Given how this administration has used federal agents in communities this year, we're taking this threat seriously, and we're ready to go to court immediately if it happens. But don't let the threat keep you from voting. Voting is one of the most powerful ways to make your voice heard.

In the unlikely event that you see federal agents at a voting location:

• Stay safe. Stay calm, avoid confrontation, and alert an election worker if possible.

• Report it to the Election Protection Hotline, given below, as soon as possible.

• Document it if you can do so safely: the location, time, type of activity, number of people, and any details about their uniform or clothing. Keep in mind that some states don’t allow photography and filming at or near polling locations.

• Be careful before sharing information about agents’ presence more broadly, including on social media. False reports of federal agents or ICE at a polling place can cause undue panic and discourage people from voting.

We’re working alongside partners to host regular virtual Know Your Rights sessions that have trained thousands. And our affiliates on the ground have held in-person trainings, so voters know their rights, including what to do if individuals encounter federal agents at the polls. We also offer the following Know Your Rights resources:

We are also intentionally reaching out to voters to make a voting plan that fits their needs and community. If you or your family are worried about immigration enforcement activity occurring during the voting period, make a voting plan that keeps everyone safe. Many states offer mail-in or early voting, so you don’t have to go to a voting location on Election Day. Voters can be accompanied by family members regardless of whether those family members are citizens, but noncitizen family members may choose not to travel to polling places in an abundance of caution.

One important thing all of us can do ahead of the election is share the Election Protection Hotline widely. If you see any concerning behavior at the polls, or just have a question about voting, call or text the following numbers:

• 1-866-OUR-VOTE (English)

• 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (English/Spanish)

• 1-888-API-VOTE (English/Asian languages)

• 1-844-YALLA-US (English/Arabic).

Every eligible voter has the right to cast their ballot and have it counted, free from intimidation by politicians afraid of the results, and free from interference by any government officials. Our elections have strong safeguards built in: Nearly every voter casts a ballot with a paper record that can be audited, and state law strictly controls who can handle ballots and when.

If anyone attempts to interfere with your right to vote, the ACLU is ready to respond with the full force of litigation and organizing capacity. We and our partners are working to ensure that elections officials have the information they need to ensure that ballots are protected and the chain of custody preserved, and we are preparing to go to court if necessary.

Courts are already stepping. In September, because of successful litigation by our partners, the California Supreme Court recently ruled that a Southern California sheriff unlawfully seized some 650,000 ballots from a 2025 special election and ordered him to to return them to elections officials.

We’re also on the ground. We’ve hired organizers in the states where the risk is highest, and our affiliates are running critical programs to monitor everything from access at the polls, to vote counting, to certification. They’ll be deploying poll monitors across the nation in our upcoming election. And we will equip local election officials with the resources and support they need to fulfill their duties. And as always, we will keep voters updated with reliable information and effective calls to action. This work is already underway.

Here's what you can do: If your state offers ballot tracking, use it to confirm your ballot was received and counted. And if you see anything that concerns you, report it to the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.

The law is clear: Once votes are cast and carefully counted, elected officials have a duty to respect the results. They cannot pick and choose which election outcomes to accept.

Every state has a meticulous list of steps that they take to count and verify ballots in the post-election period. While each state’s process varies, every state has trained professionals and volunteers who count ballots transparently, securely and accurately in order to ensure only eligible ballots are counted. After this thorough counting process, certification is the last step that is required by law.

The ACLU is prepared to address attempts to interfere with the counting of ballots and will fight to ensure that election results are respected. To protect voting locations, counting centers, and election results, many of our affiliates are training post-election monitors to deploy to counting and certification.

We are also prepared to sue public officials who refuse to certify election results. For example, before voting began in the 2024 presidential election, we filed a lawsuit with the ACLU of Michigan after a member of the Kalamazoo Board of County Canvassers indicated his willingness to violate Michigan’s Constitution and election law if he disagreed with the results of the election. As a result of the suit, the board member agreed in a sworn affidavit to certify the November 2024 presidential election results. We’re ready to take action again this year if necessary.

We’re also making sure the public knows how elections are administered and are ready to demand every vote be counted and ensure all results reflect the will of the voters. Through our Organizing to Protect Democracy online trainings, we are reaching nearly 10 thousand people across the country who have the skills they need to organize with us. And we've taken our movement deeper with in person convenings in Arizona, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Utah. We’re also ready to help lead the charge not only in the court of law, but in the court of public opinion, if there are any attempts to undermine fair certification.

It’s understandable to have questions about the safety and security of our elections, particularly at a time when this administration is taking unprecedented steps to restrict access to the ballot.

But there’s no need to navigate that uncertainty alone.

The ACLU and our affiliates are organizing our largest ever volunteer mobilization and training program to protect voters before, during, and after the elections. We’re already doing the work — and there are concrete ways you can join us:

• Join the ACLU's Democracy Defenders Task Force: Work alongside ACLU teams on major voting rights fights nationwide.

• Attend a Know Your Rights training: We're holding these and distributing materials across the country, so voters know their rights and what to do if they face issues at the ballot box.

• Become a poll monitor, certification monitor, or other election safeguarding volunteer: Find out what local organizations lead monitoring programs and join them! In many places, it’s the ACLU or our partners.

• We’ve also answered questions about how to vote amid Trump’s attacks on our elections, and we’ll continue to provide breaking news, helpful resources, and updates on SCOTUS developments related to election safeguarding, voter protection, and more.

Threats to the ballot box aren’t isolated, coincidental, or based on any sound argument. They're part of a coordinated effort to make voters doubt the process, stay home, or give up on the idea that their vote matters. But voters are not powerless, and neither are we. The ACLU and our partners have been preparing for these threats and are already taking action to protect the freedom to vote. We will not let voters become collateral damage in political schemes to hold on to power.

Voting is about people having a say in the decisions that shape their lives and communities. Every voter deserves the facts, and every voter deserves the confidence that their vote will be counted.

Your vote is the most powerful tool you have to influence the future of our country — if it wasn’t, President Trump and his allies wouldn’t be trying so hard to take it away from you. The ACLU will never stop working to protect it.