US judge blocks federal operations seeking to identify non-citizen voters

The ruling by US District Court Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin said the investigations likely violate a provision of the Voting Rights Act that prohibits voter intimidation. She further stated that the DHS may have relied on flawed data in its investigations, leading to 'an objectively reasonable fear of law enforcement entanglements that intimidates citizens from urging or aiding others in exercising their right to vote'.

Targeted States

The order applies to federal efforts targeting California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin. The DHS has publicized what it has described as a push to identify individuals who have committed voter fraud, with some local offices posting photos of agents knocking on doors of suspects.

Administration's Focus

The operations come as the administration of US President Donald Trump has sought to highlight instances of voter fraud ahead of the November 3 midterm vote. While there are recorded instances of fraud in every election cycle, such isolated cases remain exceedingly rare. There has been no evidence to indicate that non-citizen voters have influenced the outcome of any election at any level in the country.