Trump official tried to ban half of US voting machines, citing conspiracy theories

Donald Trump’s election-security adviser, Kurt Olsen, sought to ban voting machines from Dominion Voting Systems—used in more than half of U.S. states—by claiming their components posed a national-security risk. The plan, discussed in late 2023, aimed to replace them with hand-counted paper ballots, a move election experts warn could reduce accuracy. Olsen, who leads Trump’s efforts to challenge election results, pushed the idea through the Commerce Department, which began exploring legal grounds for the ban in September. The initiative involved Paul McNamara, a senior aide to Trump’s spy chief Tulsi Gabbard, and Brian Sikma, a special assistant to Trump on domestic policy. McNamara, then heading an intelligence task force on voting vulnerabilities, asked Commerce Department officials to designate Dominion’s chips and software as a security threat. However, the plan stalled after Olsen and his team failed to provide evidence to justify the ban. Sources say the effort was part of a broader Trump administration push to undermine state control over elections, a power granted under the U.S. Constitution. Earlier this year, Reuters reported that administration officials in at least eight states had sought to access voting records and re-examine debunked fraud claims ahead of the 2024 midterms. Olsen’s push to invalidate Dominion machines before the elections reflects ongoing Republican efforts to reshape election rules. Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick denied involvement, stating he never discussed election integrity with McNamara. Gabbard’s office also denied coordinating with Commerce on the ban. Olsen, McNamara, and Sikma did not respond to requests for comment. The failed attempt highlights tensions between the federal government and states over election oversight, with Democrats calling for Olsen’s removal from his post. The episode underscores broader Republican strategies to influence election administration, including early redistricting efforts to gain advantages in November.