Judge Orders Trump Administration to Halt Threats Against Election Officials
Judge bars Trump administration from threatening election officials with criminal prosecution, tightening DOJ's power ahead of the 2026 midterms.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, DC, United States — A federal judge in Washington, DC, has ordered the Trump administration to cease threatening election officials with criminal prosecution over ballot handling, a move that limits the Justice Department’s intimidation tactics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The order, issued on Friday, prohibits the DOJ from demanding that state and local election officials separate ballots and from threatening legal action for noncompliance, effectively putting a halt to the agency’s alleged pressure on election processes.
In a related finding, a review showed that more than 40 percent of the names on the DOJ’s list of alleged noncitizens are not on California voter rolls, raising questions about the list’s validity and the justification for the threats.
The Trump administration has appealed the ruling, arguing that the judge exceeded his authority and that the DOJ’s actions were lawful, but the appeal is pending as the court’s injunction remains in force.
Election officials nationwide have expressed relief, saying the order should help protect the integrity of the voting process and reduce the legal pressure they face ahead of the upcoming elections.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
