Judge Trina Thompson slammed the Trump administration Friday, ruling it exceeded its legal authority by threatening state and local election officials who refuse to follow its voter‑purge demands.
Federal judges block voter intimidation effort
The ruling bars the Justice Department and Homeland Security from pressuring officials to remove registered voters, withhold ballots, or set aside midterm votes based solely on a federal list of suspected noncitizen voters.
Thompson cited the Voting Rights Act of 1965, saying the administration’s actions likely constitute “attempting to intimidate, threaten or coerce” voters, a clear violation of federal law.
“Free exercise of the right to vote is a core tenet of our democracy. It requires safeguarding to ensure full participation and public trust in our elections,” the judge wrote.
The decision comes just days before Tuesday’s midterm elections that will decide control of Congress, heightening the stakes for both parties.
Election workers’ unions and civil rights groups filed the lawsuit after the administration sent letters to all 50 states and Washington, D.C., warning that local officials could face criminal prosecution for allowing noncitizens to vote.
In California, roughly 20,000 registered voters were flagged as potentially noncitizen, prompting the DOJ to demand their ballots be kept separate and threaten criminal charges against county workers who handled them.
Under the order, federal officials may not threaten criminal charges to force compliance, nor may they prosecute workers for handling ballots in accordance with state and federal election laws.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that federal officials must inform recipients of the earlier letters that the court has blocked those demands and must report any warrant applications, grand jury subpoenas, or requests for election materials to the court.
Wednesday’s separate ruling saw another federal judge reject the Justice Department’s request to set aside California ballots, and a federal appeals court denied the administration’s appeal on Friday.
Thompson’s order stays in effect until November 16, ensuring the injunction remains active through the election period.
