California braces for federal poll monitors as voter trust falls 17 points
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California election officials are preparing for increased federal scrutiny of the November midterm elections, with poll monitors expected at voting sites. A University of California, San Diego survey found only 60 percent of US adults trust election counts, a 17-point drop from two years ago. The preparations come as 84 percent of California Republicans call voter fraud a major concern.
Key Facts
- A University of California, San Diego survey found only 60 percent of US adults had confidence that the country's elections would be counted accurately, a 17 percentage-point drop from two years ago.
- An August poll from the University of California, Berkeley found that 84 percent of Republicans ranked voter fraud as a "major concern", compared with 21 percent of Democrats.
- The US Attorney's Office in Los Angeles opened an investigation into California's June primary after Trump's fraud claims, but no charges have been announced.
- Catherine Lhamon, director of the Edley Center on Law and Democracy at UC Berkeley School of Law, said the presence of federal poll monitors can discourage voters from casting ballots.
- James Kus, Fresno County clerk and registrar of voters, said election fraud is "incredibly rare" and that investigations have found no evidence to support widespread fraud claims.
Federal Scrutiny
California election officials are preparing for federal poll monitors at voting sites during the November midterm elections. Catherine Lhamon, director of the Edley Center on Law and Democracy at UC Berkeley School of Law, said the mere presence of federal officials can discourage voters from standing in line or exercising their right to vote. Lhamon added that poll monitors can create a false impression about the accuracy of election proceedings, signaling to the community that something might be wrong. The US Attorney's Office in Los Angeles opened an investigation into California's June primary following Trump's fraud allegations, but no charges have been announced.
Voter Trust Decline
A University of California, San Diego survey this year found that only 60 percent of US adults had confidence that the country's elections would be counted accurately. That figure marked a 17 percentage-point drop compared with two years ago. An August poll from the University of California, Berkeley found that 84 percent of Republicans ranked voter fraud as a "major concern", compared with 21 percent of Democrats. Trump has maintained that his defeat in the 2020 presidential election was the result of "rigged" voting and raised similar claims after California's June primary.
Election Fraud Reality
James Kus, Fresno County clerk and registrar of voters, said election fraud is "incredibly rare" and that after years of claims and investigations, "there's nothing there." Lhamon echoed that assessment, stating that voter fraud is investigated extensively and not found. Despite the lack of evidence, Trump's allegations have resonated strongly with Republicans in California, with 84 percent calling voter fraud a major concern.
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California braces for federal poll monitors as voter trust falls 17 points
