I’ve been studying election integrity for 26 years, and here’s why I expect a normal election this November instead of chaos

Election law scholar Justin Levitt, in an interview about the 2026 midterms, argues widespread voter intimidation and federal ballot seizures are extremely unlikely despite public anxiety. He points to the sheer logistics of nearly 100,000 polling places nationwide as a practical barrier to any coordinated intimidation campaign.

Levitt predicts the more likely scenario is a small, camera-ready incident designed to go viral and scare voters rather than a true nationwide operation. He also distinguishes the ballot seizures in Fulton County and Riverside, both of old, already-tallied ballots, from any attempt to seize ballots with results still pending, which he calls flatly unconstitutional.

He notes the California Supreme Court recently found the Riverside seizure unlawful, and credits that ruling along with the Fulton County judge's caveats with putting other judges on notice. Levitt frames state and local officials' extensive contingency planning as responsible preparation, not evidence that collapse is imminent.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.