Nearly Half of Americans Fear Trump Administration Will Seize Ballots in 2026 Midterms

A poll by the States United Democracy Center found that 49% of Americans worry the Trump administration will seize ballots during the 2026 midterm elections. The survey, conducted February 11-19, 2026, reflects growing public concern about executive interference in voting, even as Trump has made statements suggesting he regrets not seizing ballots during the 2020 presidential election.

The poll interviewed 1,570 American adults and carries a 2.7% margin of error. Among respondents, 29% said they were " concerned" about potential ballot seizures and 20% said they were "somewhat concerned." Support for the concern varied sharply by party affiliation: 81% of Democrats expressed worry that Trump would "use the military to seize ballots and voting machines," compared to 9% of Republicans and 18% of independents.

In January 2026, Trump stated he regretted not seizing ballots during the 2020 election, lending credence to public concerns about his intentions. A majority of Americans surveyed also told States United they do not believe Trump should have the power to cancel or "redo" the 2026 midterm elections.

The poll was completed before Trump issued a second executive order on elections in late March 2026. That order restricts mail-in voting, creates a national list of eligible voters, and instructs the U.S. Postal Service to send absentee ballots only to people on the approved list. A separate UMass Amherst poll conducted this month found that fewer than one in five Americans support federal government control of elections.

Context

The U.S. Constitution grants states, not the federal government, authority over election administration. Trump's recent statements and executive actions represent a significant departure from this constitutional framework. In 2020, Trump made repeated claims about election fraud without evidence and pressured state officials to overturn results, actions that were rejected by courts and election officials across both parties.

The March 2026 executive order has already drawn legal challenges from Democrats and voting rights advocates, who argue it exceeds presidential authority and violates constitutional protections. The order's requirement that mail-in ballots go only to federally approved voters represents a substantial restriction on voting access compared to current practice in most states.

What's Next

The legal challenges to Trump's March executive order will likely determine whether the ballot restrictions and national voter list remain in effect through the 2026 midterms. Federal courts have previously blocked Trump administration voting restrictions, but the composition of the judiciary has shifted since 2020. The outcome of these cases will directly affect whether the concerns reflected in the States United poll materialize into actual policy during the midterm elections.