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On Tuesday, nearly half the country will head to the polls to cast ballots on a range of major questions and offices, and President Donald Trump just made a not-so-subtle power grab ahead of the off-year vote. Just days before next week’s elections, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that federal monitors will be sent to California and New Jersey to ensure “ballot security.” Though the move has sparked fear on social media, preeminent elections expert Rick Hasen assures Slate that it’s more bark than bite, likely intended to “trigger” Democrats during the lead-up to a critical vote. That said, Hasen warns that this initial attempt by Trump to use federal official

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