Voters line up to cast their ballots at Lion's Field in San Antonio.

Credit: Sanford Nowlin As Texas and the rest of the nation head into midterm elections likely to prove punishing for the party in power, defenders of free and fair elections said they're preparing for the worst.

Civil rights organizations, elections watchdogs and constitutional attorneys are steeling themselves for attempts by President Donald Trump and his allies to stand in the way of U.S. voters.