US judge blocks federal pressure on election workers
A federal judge has temporarily barred US officials from threatening election workers over alleged voter ineligibility. Trina Thompson’s nationwide order runs through November 16, after the November 3 midterms. It addresses pressure on state and local officials, including demands over ballot processing, while a separate California case concerns the segregation of disputed ballots.
Geopolitics··Midday
A nationwide order through November 16
Trina Thompson, a US federal district judge in California, issued a temporary restraining order on Friday barring federal officials from threatening, intimidating or coercing election workers.[1], [2]
The order covers state and local officials handling the November 3 midterms. The Justice and Homeland Security departments cannot use such pressure to demand that workers stop processing a registered voter’s ballot solely because the administration alleges that the voter is ineligible. The protection remains in force through November 16.[1]
Letters sought cooperation under threat of investigation
The Justice Department had sent letters to 57 of California’s 58 counties the previous week, seeking cooperation with investigations of alleged unlawful voting. Officials were warned that they could face investigation themselves. A letter to San Bernardino County, a local government in California, requested rapid sharing of nonpublic voter information and the separation of some mail ballots while citizenship was checked.[1]
Thompson warns of harm to eligible voters
The administration says its demands aim to prevent noncitizens from voting unlawfully. Thompson said the methods risked interfering with election administration and denying lawful voters their rights. Her order provides temporary relief in a case brought by election workers’ unions and other groups; it does not settle the case’s merits. A separate appeals decision rejected the administration’s request to segregate California ballots. Thompson’s ruling instead addresses pressure directed at election workers nationwide.[1]
