Judge Restricts Federal Election Demands and Prosecution Threats

U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order Friday barring the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security from pressuring election officials over ballots linked to voters the administration alleges are ineligible. The order prevents the agencies from demanding voter-roll removals, ballot withholding or segregation, or halted processing solely on that basis. It also bars threats of prosecution for officials handling ballots in accordance with election law. The order applies to state and local officials and workers. It requires the agencies to notify officials who received relevant warning letters that the demands and prosecution threats are enjoined. The Justice Department must also report to the court on related search-warrant applications, grand jury subpoenas and other demands for election materials. Thompson found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on claims that the agencies’ conduct violated the Voting Rights Act and exceeded federal authority. The court’s preliminary findings do not resolve the lawsuit’s merits. The order says that processing ballots lawfully does not itself violate federal criminal law merely because...