President Donald Trump, in his February 24, 2026, State of the Union address, reiterated his unsubstantiated claims that the U.S. elections system is compromised, asserting that “the cheating is rampant in our elections. It’s rampant.” These statements followed the FBI’s January 2026 seizure of 2020 ballots from Fulton County, Georgia, and Trump’s recent push for the Republican Party to nationalize elections. The administration is also pursuing legal action in 24 states and Washington, D.C., seeking voter registration lists. In his speech, Trump called on Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to vote, effectively ending online voter registration. These claims have fueled distrust in the U.S. electoral process, despite extensive evidence showing that voter fraud is exceedingly rare, particularly by noncitizens.
Trump’s actions have sparked concern about the potential for election manipulation in the 2026 midterm and 2028 presidential elections. International experience demonstrates that attempts to undermine elections are not unique to fragile democracies. Even established democracies, like India, have seen sophisticated tactics used to manipulate results, ranging from legal changes that suppress voting to disinformation campaigns and harassment of opposition actors. These challenges have prompted the development of electoral assistance programs worldwide, which support countries in designing electoral systems that reflect citizens’ will and uphold democratic principles.
Electoral assistance has strengthened election transparency and administration in countries such as Armenia and Mexico, and improved voter registration and education in Ghana and Colombia. It is primarily delivered by international nonprofits like the National Democratic Institute and The Carter Center, as well as multilateral organizations such as the United Nations. These programs focus on enhancing election integrity through capacity-building, technical support, and monitoring mechanisms that prevent fraud and coercion.
Successful international strategies include early warning systems and community resilience programs that identify threats to voters, candidates, and election officials before and during elections. Countries such as Sri Lanka and Liberia have implemented early warning measures in coordination with law enforcement and civic groups to track coercion, misuse of government resources, and vote-buying, while trusted community leaders help mobilize preventive action. Similar initiatives have been implemented in North Macedonia and Kenya, demonstrating the value of coordinated early interventions.
Another critical component is addressing disinformation in real-time through media and technology partnerships. Brazil’s 2022 elections showed the effectiveness of coalitions of media outlets and tech platforms in fact-checking and countering false narratives. In Moldova, investigative journalism trained by expert nonprofits uncovered foreign-backed campaigns targeting voters. Such efforts highlight the importance of local media and rapid response systems in protecting electoral integrity.
Enhancing neutrality, transparency, and system reform has also proven effective in fostering trust in elections. Codes of conduct for candidates, media, and businesses, alongside commitments from election officials, increase accountability and public confidence. Countries such as New Zealand, Nigeria, and the Philippines have implemented these measures, while reforms like proportional representation in South Africa and Northern Ireland have addressed dissatisfaction with winner-take-all systems. Technology companies, including Google and Meta, have supported guidelines and tools to prevent misinformation and ensure fair elections, as seen in Australia’s 2025 election.
Broad-based mobilization and civic campaigns increase voter turnout, making manipulation more difficult. High participation by youth, minority, or diaspora groups has been pivotal in opposition victories in Zambia’s 2021 elections and Poland’s 2023 parliamentary elections. Prebunking campaigns and civic education programs in Brazil and the U.S. have also helped build public trust and support for pro-democracy candidates.
Finally, strategic coalitions and nonpartisan monitoring are essential for verifying results and ensuring adherence to standards. Parallel vote tabulations, international observation, and coalitions of civic groups have been effective in Ukraine, Ghana, Paraguay, Senegal, and the Philippines. Observers from organizations like the OSCE help assess compliance with global election standards, recommend reforms, and, where necessary, provide evidence to justify mobilization, protests, or repeat elections, as demonstrated in Bolivia, Serbia, and Georgia.
In sum, international experience shows that safeguarding elections requires a combination of early warning, rapid response to disinformation, transparent systems, broad voter engagement, and rigorous monitoring. These lessons underscore the importance of proactive measures and civic engagement to protect the integrity of democratic processes in the United States.
