Politics · United States · 1 hr ago
US judge bars threats against election workers over ballot processing
A federal judge ordered the Justice Department to stop threatening election workers over how they handle ballots.
The order bars officials from pressuring state and local workers to stop processing ballots or set aside votes based only on claims that voters may be ineligible.
The Trump administration has sought tighter control over election procedures, saying it is acting against voting by non-citizens.
In a separate dispute, a federal appeals court rejected the administration’s request to set aside about 20,000 California ballots while voters’ citizenship is checked; state officials say the list behind the claim is unreliable.
The courts warned that separating specific ballots could disrupt the election system and risk preventing eligible citizens from voting.
The order comes just days before the midterm election ends on Tuesday, while many ballots have already been processed in California.
A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from threatening or coercing election workers over ballots linked to voters it alleges are noncitizens.
U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled that federal officials cannot demand that election workers halt ballot processing or refuse, segregate or leave uncounted ballots based solely on those allegations.
The order also bars demands to remove registered voters from voter rolls on that basis.
The ruling followed a lawsuit brought by labor unions and civil rights groups, including the Service Employees International Union and the NAACP.
It came days before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, after a federal appeals court rejected a separate request to set aside about 20,000 disputed California ballots.
- Who
- U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued the order against the Trump administration, including the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security.
- What
- The order temporarily bars threats or coercion against election workers and demands to halt processing, reject, segregate or leave ballots uncounted based solely on claims that voters are ineligible.
- When
- Friday, Oct. 30, ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
- Where
- The United States; the order concerns state and local election officials.
- Why
- Labor unions and civil rights groups sued over federal threats and demands related to alleged noncitizen voting. Thompson said election workers must be able to carry out their work under federal law and election procedures.
Trump administration
Critics and election workers' unions and civil rights groups
Election oversight
Trump administration
The administration says stricter measures are needed to prevent noncitizen voting and protect election security and public confidence.
Critics and election workers' unions and civil rights groups
Critics view the administration's actions as federal overreach and say they threaten the proper administration of elections.
Ballot processing
Trump administration
The administration sought action against ballots associated with people it alleges may be noncitizens.
Critics and election workers' unions and civil rights groups
The plaintiffs challenged threats and demands that could stop processing or lead to ballots being rejected, segregated or not counted.
A district court judge rejected the administration’s request to require California to set aside disputed ballots.
A federal appeals court denied the Justice Department’s request to set aside disputed California mail ballots while voters’ citizenship status was checked.
Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order barring threats and demands against state and local election workers based solely on claims that voters were ineligible.
The midterm elections are scheduled to conclude.
- Judge
- Trina Thompson, U.S. District Judge
- Order
- Temporary restraining order issued Oct. 30
- Election date
- Nov. 3, 2026
- California ballots
- About 20,000 ballots were identified by federal officials as linked to people they said may be noncitizens
- Plaintiffs
- Labor unions and civil rights groups, including the SEIU and NAACP
4 sources
Federal judge blocks Trump DOJ threats against election workers ahead of 2026 midterms
Jueza de EU ordena al gobierno de Trump detener las presiones sobre funcionarios electorales
US judge orders Trump administration to cease threats to prosecute election officials
Federal judge bars DoJ from threatening election workers to stop processing ballots
What people are saying
One of the hallmarks of a fair election is the freedom to exercise the right to vote free from threat, fear, or intimidation
Because the public has a paramount interest in ensuring that election officials and workers are able to carry out their work in accordance with federal law and election procedure, and the official day of the Elections is only a couple of days away, the balance of the equities and public interest weigh in Plaintiffs’ favour
Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting. Enforcing that law is not an agenda item. It is the Department’s job.
Any election official who knowingly processes the ballot of a noncitizen is opening themselves to legal jeopardy.