Election deniers amplify Trump-linked ballot security claims ahead of 2026 midterms

In the weeks before the 2026 midterms, leading election-denial advocates have revived doubts about the integrity of U.S. elections, echoing President Donald Trump’s narrative. Cleta Mitchell warned that Georgia’s voting machines use a version that records QR codes instead of votes, while Ed Martin repeated accusations that machines containing Chinese parts are compromised. Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts labeled predictions of Democratic Senate gains as a psychological operation designed to depress conservative voter participation.

Martin also claimed Trump recently met with Colorado official Tina Peters in the Oval Office to discuss election-integrity plans, suggesting the president may act unilaterally if Congress does not pass the Save America Act. Meanwhile, Mitchell said the Justice Department is probing Georgia’s voter-data sharing with nonprofits, accusing the state of hypocrisy. These statements come as the Trump administration pursues policies such as a federal voter database and stricter mail-in ballot rules, most of which remain stalled by court rulings.