COLUMN: Trump and the Right to Vote: When Democracy Becomes a Target

Undermining Trust in the Electoral System

For years, Donald Trump has been repeating, without evidence, that elections are “rigged,” that millions of votes are “fraudulent,” and that non-citizens are voting en masse. These allegations, which have been repeatedly debunked, serve a single purpose: to sow doubt in the minds of voters, justify increasingly draconian restrictions, and lay the groundwork for challenging the results in the event of a defeat. In January 2026, he even declared that “the midterm elections should not take place,” before backtracking under pressure. But the damage is done. By undermining confidence in the electoral process, Trump is preparing his supporters to reject any result that does not favor him. This is a dangerous strategy that risks plunging the country into an unprecedented institutional crisis.

I remember the aftermath of 2020. Months of lies, conspiracy theories, and violence. Trump supporters storming the Capitol, refusing to accept defeat. Today, he’s at it again. He’s laying the groundwork for more chaos. And this time, he has the means to achieve his ambitions: a Republican majority in Congress, a Supreme Court loyal to his cause, and a militant base willing to do anything to keep him in power. So yes, I’m worried. Because when a man like Trump says he wants to “take control of the vote,” he’s not joking. He’s not just making a soundbite. He’s announcing his intentions. And we have to take him at his word.

A Historic Setback for Electoral Protections

The Supreme Court, dominated by a conservative majority, has already weakened the Voting Rights Act, the landmark 1965 law that protected the rights of minorities. In 2026, it appears poised to go even further by allowing states to draw electoral districts without considering their racial impact. As a result, gerrymandering—the practice of redrawing district boundaries to favor one party—is becoming widespread. In states like Texas, Georgia, and Florida, Republicans are redrawing electoral maps to marginalize Democratic voters, particularly Black and Hispanic communities. This maneuver, combined with new voting restrictions, could ensure their lasting dominance, regardless of voters’ actual choice.

The Supreme Court is supposed to be the ultimate bulwark against abuses of power. But today, it has become an accomplice to them. By dismantling the Voting Rights Act, turning a blind eye to gerrymandering, and upholding laws that restrict the right to vote, it is betraying its mission. It is betraying America. And it is opening the door to an era where power is no longer won at the ballot box, but through manipulation, exclusion, and force. So I wonder: what will remain of democracy when the guardians of the Constitution become its gravediggers?

Resistance from Local Governments

In the face of Trump’s offensive, some states are resisting. In Indiana, for example, authorities have refused to yield to federal pressure to redraw electoral districts. In California and New York, laws have been passed to facilitate voter registration and protect mail-in voting. But this resistance is fragile. Trump has threatened to send federal agents to “surround polling places” in Democratic states—an illegal measure reminiscent of the darkest days of segregation. And with a Republican majority in Congress, he may well find ways to circumvent local opposition by imposing his rules by force.

I want to believe that American democracy is strong enough to withstand this. That the states, the judges, and the citizens will stand up against this drift. But I also know that democracies do not always die amid the sound and fury. Sometimes, they fade away slowly, to the applause of those who still believe that “it won’t happen here.” So today I shout: It’s happening. It’s happening now. And if we don’t react, if we don’t fight for every vote, for every right, for every institution, then we will all be complicit in this tragedy.

Don’t Normalize the Unacceptable

The media bears an immense responsibility: not to normalize Trump’s attacks on democracy; not to treat his lies as opinions or his authoritarian plans as ordinary political proposals. Yet all too often, we downplay, we relativize, we call it “rhetoric.” But when a president says he wants to cancel elections, that he wants to control the vote, that he wants to exclude millions of citizens, that’s not just a publicity stunt. It’s a threat. A threat that must be denounced, fought, and stopped in its tracks.

I remember a country where journalists asked tough questions, where editorialists sounded the alarm, where citizens took to the streets to defend their rights. Today, I see too much silence, too many compromises, too much cowardice. So I say to the media: do your job. Speak out. Sound the alarm. Resist. Because if you don’t, who will? And I say to citizens: don’t stay silent. Don’t get used to it. Don’t let it happen. Because democracy doesn’t defend itself. It must be defended every day. It must be defended now.

November 2026: The Moment of Truth

The midterm elections, scheduled for November 2026, will be a decisive test. If Trump and his allies manage to impose their restrictions, manipulate the results, and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election, then American democracy will emerge weakened—perhaps irreparably. But if voters resist, if institutions hold firm, and if the mobilization is strong enough, then there will still be time to save what can be saved. Everything will be decided in the coming months. Everything will be decided at the polls.

I don’t know what will happen in November. I don’t know if Americans will recognize the danger, if they will mobilize, if they will say no. But I know one thing: if we let Trump and his allies hijack the election, then we will have lost far more than just an election. We will have lost our country. We will have lost our future. So today, I choose to fight. I choose to believe that democracy is worth fighting for. What about you?

A Model in Jeopardy

What is happening in the United States does not concern only Americans. If the world’s largest democracy slips into authoritarianism, it will send a signal to all illiberal regimes across the globe. A signal that democracy is merely a temporary phase, that power can be seized through trickery, force, or manipulation. The whole world is watching. The whole world is waiting. And the whole world will know whether we were able to defend our values, or whether we let them die without a fight.

I often think of those countries where men and women risk their lives to vote. Where activists fight for free elections. Where entire peoples rise up against tyranny. And I ask myself: what will we tell them if we let Trump destroy American democracy? What will we tell them if we give up without a fight? We have no right to let them down. We have no right to betray them. Because democracy is not a privilege. It is a struggle. A struggle that never ends.

Take Action Before It’s Too Late

There is still time to act. Civil rights organizations are mobilizing. Democratic states are holding their ground. Citizens can register to vote, verify their voter status, and encourage their loved ones to vote. Elected officials can refuse to give in to pressure, defend our institutions, and protect the right to vote. But to do so, we must shake off our indifference. We must refuse to give in to resignation. We must believe that every vote counts. Because in a democracy, the final say always belongs to the people—provided the people are still willing to exercise it.

I end this article with a quiet anger, but also with unwavering determination. Because I refuse to live in a country where voting is a privilege, where the truth is optional, where democracy is an illusion. So yes, I am committed. I am committed to fighting. I pledge never to remain silent. And I ask you: commit yourselves, too. Because if we don’t do it, who will? Because if we give up, who will be left to fight? Because democracy doesn’t defend itself. We defend it together.

Democracy or Authoritarianism: We Must Make a Choice

America stands at a crossroads. On one side is Trump, with his desire to “nationalize” elections, restrict the right to vote, and manipulate institutions. On the other side are those who still believe in democracy, in the will of the people, and in the strength of institutions. The choice is clear. The time has come. And history will judge us not by our words, but by our actions. Not by what we said, but by what we did. So today, I ask you: which side will you be on?

I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know if we’ll be able to save our democracy. But I know one thing: if we don’t fight, if we don’t speak out, if we don’t resist, then we’ve already made our choice. Then we’ve already lost. So today, I choose to fight. I choose to believe that light can still triumph over darkness. I choose to believe that democracy can still prevail. What about you?

Signed, Jacques Provost