Stephanie Thomas said Connecticut’s November 2026 election will proceed normally after reports that DHS plans to investigate the state for voter fraud, stressing her office has received no federal contact or evidence of ineligible voting.
A CNN-obtained DHS memo says Homeland Security Investigations will launch a criminal voter-fraud surge starting Sept. 2 in nine states and continue through mid-October, conducting leads, field interviews and prosecutorial support.
Thomas called the timing unusual because Justice Department guidance warns overt ballot-fraud steps close to an election can chill legitimate voting, and she said repeated federal court fights over mail voting already have confused voters and election workers.
The reported probe fits a broader Trump administration push to expand federal oversight of elections: DOJ sought voter rolls from all 50 states in 2025, 31 states including Connecticut resisted, and the department is appealing a July ruling favoring the state.
Thomas urged residents to rely on state election officials rather than rumors, with Connecticut’s voter guide due Oct. 1 and updates available through myvote.ct.gov and the state’s text alert system.