Midterms: Donald Trump dismisses members from independent election commission

U.S. President Donald Trump has reduced the size of an independent election commission just four months before the midterm elections, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats. Two members appointed by Democrats were dismissed, and a Republican-appointed staffer resigned, according to Reuters, citing insider sources.

The commission, established by Congress in 2002, typically comprises four members, with an equal number of Republican and Democrat appointees. However, the panel had recently been operating with only three members, leaving one position vacant. The commission's duties include supporting states in organizing elections with federal funds, accrediting testing laboratories, certifying voting systems, and managing the national mail-in voter registration form.

Critics have labeled the dismissals as a concerning effort to influence the election. Adrian Fontes, a Democrat serving as Arizona's Secretary of State, stated that Trump appears determined to "cause chaos" in the upcoming elections. He argued that this action "undermines the integrity of non-partisan election administration," a role he oversees in his state.

This development follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision in late June that significantly expanded the president's authority over independent federal agencies. While the ruling specifically concerned members of the Federal Trade Commission, it was widely anticipated that Trump would use it as a precedent to assert greater control over other agencies.