Two-thirds of Americans surveyed are worried about the integrity of U.S. elections.

That’s according to a Gallup Poll released in July. A total of 67% of the respondents are concerned that political leaders will attempt to pressure election officials to change outcomes in the upcoming midterm elections. That's a significant percentage of people.

President Donald Trump had ordered the U.S. Postal Service to screen ballots to ensure they comply with a new set of conditions that would have made it harder to vote by mail. The U.S. Supreme Court responded, rejecting the administration’s attempt to restrict mail ballots.

With the Supreme Court weighing in, is there still fear of federal influence on the 2026 midterms? And what’s behind the anxiety around election security right now?

Today on The Wheelhouse, what's being done to preserve the integrity of our elections?

Guests:


Eric McDaniel, congressional reporter, NPR’s Washington Desk


Dion Nissenbaum, senior national reporter, Votebeat


Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut Secretary of the State

Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this survey.

The Wheelhouse is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Two-thirds of Americans surveyed are worried about the integrity of U.S. elections.
That&rsquo;s according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/712955/election-concerns-run-high-ahead-2026-midterms.aspx">Gallup Poll </a>released in July. A total of 67% of the respondents are concerned that political leaders will attempt to pressure election officials to change outcomes in the upcoming midterm elections. That's a significant percentage of people.
President Donald Trump had ordered the U.S. Postal Service to screen ballots to ensure they comply with a new set of conditions that would have made it harder to vote by mail.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-09-15/supreme-court-rejects-trump-mail-ballot-restrictions-ahead-of-midterms">The U.S. Supreme Court responded</a>, rejecting the administration&rsquo;s attempt to restrict mail ballots.
With the Supreme Court weighing in, is there still fear of federal influence on the 2026 midterms? And what&rsquo;s behind the anxiety around election security right now?
Today on The Wheelhouse, what's being done to preserve the integrity of our elections?
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.npr.org/people/780913800/eric-mcdaniel">Eric McDaniel</a>, congressional reporter, NPR&rsquo;s Washington Desk
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.votebeat.org/authors/dion-nissenbaum/">Dion Nissenbaum</a>, senior national reporter, Votebeat
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/sots/capitol/about-stephanie-thomas/the-biography-of-stephanie-thomas?archived=true">Stephanie Thomas</a>, Connecticut Secretary of the State
</li>
</ul>
Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WBPXCFW">survey</a>.
The Wheelhouse is available on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-wheelhouse/id1123069986">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0rdTqFfVu8e6TKMa5lWXsI">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYWMwYmU5NjktZDdkZi00NjBjLWE2NmMtYTZmOTAwZTFlYmQxLzI1M2YwNjY4LTA0NjMtNGFiNC04ZWIzLWE5ZmIwMDRjOTdlNy8wOTUwNDBkZS1hZjMyLTQ1Y2UtOTkwZi1hOWZiMDA0Yzk3ZjUvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/dd73c297-450d-4ea5-bb0b-64131d617ee0/the-wheelhouse">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/The-Wheelhouse-p1207903/?topicId=264709829">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-wheelhouse-connecticut-public-radio-mxksbjc_iJI/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.