US Judge Bars Justice Department From Threatening Election Officials

A United States federal judge has barred the Department of Justice (DOJ) from threatening or intimidating state and local election officials over their handling of ballots ahead of the country's 2026 midterm elections.

US District Judge Trina Thompson issued the temporary restraining order on Friday, directing the department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to stop pressuring election officials to alter established voting procedures based on claims that some registered voters are non-citizens.

The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by labour unions and civil rights organisations, which accused the Trump administration of using threats of criminal prosecution to influence election administration.

The Justice Department had demanded that California officials separate mail-in ballots belonging to approximately 20,000 people it suspected of being non-citizens. It also warned that election officials could face prosecution if they failed to comply with its demands.

The judge ruled that the agencies could not compel officials to remove registered voters from electoral rolls, refuse ballots to specific individuals or segregate ballots based on the federal government's allegations.

The order also prohibits threats, intimidation or coercion against election officials and workers performing their duties in accordance with applicable election laws.

Thompson said the administration's actions were likely to interfere with election administration and potentially disenfranchise eligible voters.

She emphasised that public confidence in elections depended on allowing officials to carry out their responsibilities without threats or intimidation.

The judge further directed the federal agencies to notify affected state and local authorities that the demands and threats of prosecution had been suspended. The Justice Department was also ordered to inform the court about pending search warrant applications, grand jury subpoenas or other demands for access to election materials connected to the disputed voter lists.

The temporary restraining order is scheduled to remain in effect until November 16, with a further hearing set for November 13.

The ruling came amid a series of legal disputes over the Trump administration's efforts to obtain voter registration records and investigate alleged non-citizen participation in elections.

Earlier in the week, another federal judge rejected the Justice Department's request to prevent California from counting ballots associated with the approximately 20,000 individuals identified in its records. An appeals court also declined to block the counting of the ballots.

The administration has maintained that its actions are intended to prevent illegal voting and protect election integrity, while election officials and voting rights groups have raised concerns about inaccurate data and the potential exclusion of eligible voters.

The Justice Department had not issued an immediate response to the latest ruling as of Friday.

The 2026 US midterm elections, scheduled for November 3, will determine all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Senate, alongside several state and local offices.