Federal judge blocks Trump DOJ threats against election workers ahead of 2026 midterms
A federal judge has temporarily barred the Trump administration from threatening election workers with criminal prosecution over ballots tied to suspected noncitizens just days before the 2026 midterm elections.
The temporary restraining order prohibits federal officials from threatening, intimidating or coercing state and local election workers into halting ballot processing solely because the administration alleges certain registered voters are ineligible.
Judge Thompson, a Biden-appointed official, wrote in her eight-page order that "one of the hallmarks of a fair election is the freedom to exercise the right to vote free from threat, fear, or intimidation."
Administration's Election Integrity Efforts
The ruling comes as the Trump administration has sought voter registration information from states ahead of the Nov. 3 elections, arguing that its efforts are aimed at preventing noncitizen voting and protecting election integrity.
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' favor.
Legal Challenges Mount
Earlier Friday, a federal appeals court separately ruled against the Trump administration's emergency request to require California to set aside mail-in ballots associated with roughly 20,000 voters federal officials identified as likely noncitizens.
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Justice Department's request to set aside the disputed mail-in ballots while officials reviewed the voters' citizenship status, handing the administration another setback just four days before Election Day.
The lawsuit was brought by labor unions and civil rights organizations, including the Service Employees International Union and the NAACP. Thompson also ordered the administration to notify state and local governments that received the disputed letters that the demands and threats of prosecution contained in them have been blocked.
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