Democrats sue Trump administration over election demands
Lawsuit seeks to block federal pressure on state and local election officials
Democratic organizations and election officials have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block what they describe as an unlawful Trump administration campaign to pressure state and local officials over voter rolls and election procedures ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The lawsuit challenges actions by the Justice Department and other federal officials, including demands for voter-registration information and warnings that election workers could face prosecution for failing to comply with federal directives. The plaintiffs argue that the administration is exceeding federal authority and interfering with powers traditionally exercised by states and local governments.
The complaint points to recent Justice Department efforts to obtain detailed voter information from states and federal warnings directed at election officials. The administration has said its actions are intended to enforce federal election laws, prevent unlawful voting and ensure accurate voter rolls. The plaintiffs dispute that justification and characterize the government's actions as coercive.
The lawsuit asks a federal court to prevent administration officials from threatening state and local election administrators with prosecution or other penalties for following state election laws. It also seeks to stop federal officials from attempting to direct how states administer elections beyond authority granted by federal law.
The dispute comes as the Justice Department intensifies election-related enforcement. Federal prosecutors recently charged 28 green card holders in California with election-related crimes, most involving allegations that they illegally voted in U.S. elections. The administration has also sought voter information from multiple states and threatened to prosecute local California election workers over the handling of mail ballots. Those actions are separate from the new lawsuit but form part of the broader conflict over federal and state authority in administering elections.
The Constitution gives states primary responsibility for running elections while giving Congress authority to regulate aspects of federal elections. Federal laws also establish requirements governing voter registration and the maintenance of voter rolls. The new lawsuit asks the courts to determine whether the administration's recent actions exceed those federal powers.