For the first time in living memory, the executive branch of the federal government is putting its full weight into sabotaging an election. 

Much of President Trump’s recent behavior—undermining mail voting, lying about election officials, injecting doubt about election results—is sadly familiar. But for the 2026 midterms, he has multiplied the danger by weaponizing federal agencies and using his executive authority to try to control the outcome.

Years of sustained attacks by Trump and other election deniers have eroded public confidence, and the abuse of federal power this election cycle stands to damage trust even further. Thankfully, most Americans still trust the election process, and they know that state and local election officials, along with local law enforcement, are hard at work making sure the 2026 election will be free, fair, and safe. But the attacks on our elections will not stop after the votes are counted in November. We should reflect now on how to protect and extend public confidence in elections for years to come.

The answer lies with the leaders Americans already trust—the state and local officials who oversee voting in thousands of jurisdictions across the country. To build confidence in elections for the long haul, we should elevate the voices of these leaders, equip them to keep elections free and fair, and strengthen their partnerships with local law enforcement so voters can feel reassured that elections are safe.

This is not simply a matter of making voters feel better. When Americans are more confident in the integrity and safety of the election process, they are more likely to take part in it.

Our organization, the States United Democracy Center, surveyed Americans before the 2024 presidential election to ask them how confident they were that their vote would count as they intended. After the election, we then identified who among them actually voted, using voter file data. No matter their partisan leanings, Americans who expressed higher confidence that their votes would be counted as intended were more likely to vote. If all Americans had felt the highest levels of confidence going into the November 2024 election, as many as 5.7 million more voters may have cast a ballot—easily enough to decide outcomes. 

A similar pattern holds for election safety. Voters who expect violence—who feel unsafe—are less likely to vote. 

Elections in the United States are safe: In 2024, voters cast their ballots almost entirely without incident. But heightened political tension and high-profile instances of political violence have understandably left Americans concerned. Many voters worry about encountering threats, harassment, or violence at the polls.

In October 2024, as Americans thought ahead to the election, 1 in 6 expected that they personally would be harassed or threatened. Roughly 1 in 10 expected to be beaten up, attacked with a weapon, or otherwise seriously injured. Anxiety is a silent burden for Americans when it comes to voting, particularly for women, voters of color, and gender-nonconforming voters. Fear is an unfortunate part of our elections, even if those fears rarely come true.

And those fears change voter behavior. Our study, Safety and Confidence at the Polls, found that 5.5 million Americans may have decided not to vote in 2024 because they were worried about violence or harassment. That is roughly equivalent to the entire state of Michigan sitting out the election.

In 2026, Americans face new concerns about voting. They may worry that their ballots or voting equipment will be seized by federal officers, or that ICE agents will be present at the polls.

So, we have work to do. For elections to truly reflect the will of the people, voters should be confident in the process and in their own safety. They should be able to vote when and how they want—without nervously looking over their shoulders when they get to a polling place. And they should walk away knowing that their vote will be counted accurately.

The good news: To restore confidence in fair and safe elections, we already know where to look. Americans trust their state and local election officials—the governors, attorneys general, secretaries of state, and county officials who run elections and count the votes. 

The closer to home these officials are, the more Americans trust them. The local officials who administer and certify elections are trusted by nearly two-thirds of Americans, States United surveys show, reflecting majorities of Republicans and Democrats. Both local and state election officials are trusted far more than Congress or the White House to ensure that elections are free, fair, and secure. And the more voters trust public officials, the safer they feel at the polls.

Building confidence in elections means building on the trust that already exists in our communities, not starting from scratch. 

For state and local officials themselves, that means being as transparent and vocal as possible about the good work they are already doing. It means showing, not just saying, that elections are free and fair—demonstrating how voting equipment is certified, for example, and how post-election audits confirm election results. More than ever, local election officials are working closely with law enforcement agencies to plan for a variety of scenarios and protect their communities. Together, they can reassure the public by telling them about their nonpartisan training and preparations to keep voting safe.

For the news media, restoring trust in elections means going first to state and local officials for reliable information about how elections are run. It may be buzzworthy when the president and federal officials peddle misinformation and disproven theories about the election process and voting. But voters are better served when journalists start with the facts from trustworthy sources. Our research shows Americans prefer to find and receive election information from local news and direct communications from elected officials.

For state and local governments, building trust means giving local leaders the tools and resources to do their jobs. Election offices are underfunded, and state legislatures in recent years have banned donations for election security and infrastructure. The federal government’s cuts have only made chronic underfunding worse. Even when state budgets are tight, policymakers must make elections a priority. 

Overwhelming majorities of Americans support steps to make voting easier and safer, such as procedures to minimize long lines, regulations to prevent lingering at the polls, and the installation of security cameras. But those common-sense measures cost money. Policymakers must also do their part to support the partnership between election officials and law enforcement. In recent years, they have trained poll workers to defuse confrontations, upgraded security at polling places and vote-counting facilities, and countered harmful lies about voter fraud. That work is essential and must be funded well into the future.

For democracy nonprofits and philanthropists, building public trust in elections means doing everything we can to support and lift up the work of state and local officials. It means funding digital and media campaigns that put election officials directly in front of voters. It means investing in resources to counter false claims about elections before lies spread far and wide. And it means partnering with local newsrooms and community organizations to amplify the messengers Americans trust most to ensure free, fair, and secure elections—state and local officials.

The 2026 election is under direct threat from the federal government itself. This November, perhaps more than ever, voters are looking to state and local officials to run a fair and safe election, count the votes accurately, and defend the results. As we look to future elections, we should support those officials and help them continue and share their vital work. Voters are already telling us who they trust.