Power Struggle for Voting Rights in the United States
Published in Der Standard
(Austria) on 25 February 2026
by Manuela Honsig-Erlenburg (link to
original)
Even if Donald Trump’s demands for election reform don’t find any sort of legal basis, uncertainty and doubt about the legitimacy of elections have an impact.
The State of the Union address in the United States is traditionally an opportunity for the sitting president to elaborate on key intentions for the coming year. However, Donald Trump’s recent speech was just another typical Trump speech: a mix of heroic epic, fairy tale and monologue with show elements.
The subsequent polls make it clear: The majority of Americans have had enough of Trump’s nonsense. According to CNN’s opinion polling institute, SSRS, 63% consider his leadership poor. Only 32% say that he is setting the correct priorities. Does that also mean that Democrats have the midterms in the bag?
Probably not. And that is not primarily because Democrats, at least according to the general public perception, cannot offer sufficient political alternatives. This time, the battle for new majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate will be decided less by direct personal duels than by the power struggle for voting rights.
Recent Attacks
For months, Trump has called on Republican states to gerrymander voting districts to Republicans’ advantage. Texas was the first to follow this instruction. Democratic states like California have also altered their electoral maps in a targeted way — according to California Gov. Gavin Newsom this was a “response to Donald Trump’s unprecedented attempt to manipulate the upcoming elections.”*
As the most recent attack on the electoral system, Trump got attention with his demand for election reform. The ideas range from mandatory proof of citizenship to the demand that the U.S. government should monitor elections this year instead of the states. There was also the threat that ICE agents could be deployed to provide “order” during the elections.
This test of power is in full swing in any case. And ultimately, Trump has a lot of leverage as president. Even if his ideas do not find any sort of legal basis, uncertainty and doubt about the legitimacy of elections could stop many people from going to vote. Trump’s agenda, providing chaos under the cover of order, is moving forward.
*Editor’s note: This quote, accurately translated, could not be independently verified.
The State of the Union address in the United States is traditionally an opportunity for the sitting president to elaborate on key intentions for the coming year. However, Donald Trump’s recent speech was just another typical Trump speech: a mix of heroic epic, fairy tale and monologue with show elements.
The subsequent polls make it clear: The majority of Americans have had enough of Trump’s nonsense. According to CNN’s opinion polling institute, SSRS, 63% consider his leadership poor. Only 32% say that he is setting the correct priorities. Does that also mean that Democrats have the midterms in the bag?
Probably not. And that is not primarily because Democrats, at least according to the general public perception, cannot offer sufficient political alternatives. This time, the battle for new majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate will be decided less by direct personal duels than by the power struggle for voting rights.
Recent Attacks
For months, Trump has called on Republican states to gerrymander voting districts to Republicans’ advantage. Texas was the first to follow this instruction. Democratic states like California have also altered their electoral maps in a targeted way — according to California Gov. Gavin Newsom this was a “response to Donald Trump’s unprecedented attempt to manipulate the upcoming elections.”*
As the most recent attack on the electoral system, Trump got attention with his demand for election reform. The ideas range from mandatory proof of citizenship to the demand that the U.S. government should monitor elections this year instead of the states. There was also the threat that ICE agents could be deployed to provide “order” during the elections.
This test of power is in full swing in any case. And ultimately, Trump has a lot of leverage as president. Even if his ideas do not find any sort of legal basis, uncertainty and doubt about the legitimacy of elections could stop many people from going to vote. Trump’s agenda, providing chaos under the cover of order, is moving forward.
*Editor’s note: This quote, accurately translated, could not be independently verified.
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