Experts Warn of Partisan Efforts to Control Voting Machinery in Battleground States

Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona identified as vulnerable to rule changes and audits that could undermine confidence in election results.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Voting experts have identified several battleground states as especially vulnerable to partisan efforts to control voting machinery, with pro-Trump activists and Republican officials pursuing audits, rule changes, and structural overhauls that opponents and analysts say could tilt the playing field or undermine confidence in the results. These states include Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona.

Why it matters

The attempts to exert partisan control over election processes in these key swing states could have significant implications for the integrity and fairness of future elections, potentially undermining public trust in the democratic process.

The details

In Michigan, a right-wing group has obtained copies of about 150,000 Detroit absentee ballots and envelopes from 2020 through public records requests and is building its own database to scrutinize them. In North Carolina, Republicans have restructured control of election boards, stripping the Democratic governor of appointment power and giving it to the elected GOP state auditor. In multiple states, Democratic politicians and election officials are preparing for a fight with the Trump administration.

  • The New York Times report was published on March 8, 2026.

The players

President Trump

The former president who has repeatedly made baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and is calling for the federal government and Republican Party to take control of elections.

Detroit Officials

Officials in Detroit, Michigan, who say they stand by the 2020 election results and welcome outside review.

North Carolina Republicans

Republican officials in North Carolina who have restructured control of election boards, stripping the Democratic governor of appointment power and giving it to the elected GOP state auditor.

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What’s next

Democratic politicians and election officials in the identified battleground states are preparing for a fight with the Trump administration over these efforts to exert partisan control over election processes.

The takeaway

The vulnerabilities identified in these battleground states highlight the ongoing threats to the integrity of the democratic process, underscoring the need for robust safeguards and nonpartisan oversight to ensure fair and secure elections.