Judge bars federal pressure on election officials

A federal judge in California temporarily barred the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security from pressuring election officials to change how they handle ballots, including through threats of criminal prosecution, voter-roll removals or demands to segregate ballots. The order was issued Friday by U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson and is set to expire November 16, 2026. The temporary restraining order applies to state and local election officials and workers. It prevents the agencies from demanding that officials halt ballot processing, refuse to issue ballots, remove registered voters from rolls, or set aside ballots solely because the administration alleges that voters are ineligible. It also bars threats, intimidation or coercion intended to make officials alter ballot procedures on that basis. Thompson issued the order without first hearing from the administration, saying delay risked immediate harm. She wrote that the government’s actions were likely to interfere with election administration and disenfranchise eligible voters. The judge also directed the administration to inform her of search-warrant applications, grand-jury subpoenas or other demands for...