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NewsWFLA News TampaOctober 31, 2026Hillsborough County

Federal judge blocks DOJ from threatening election officials over noncitizen voting claims

Photo: WFLA News Tampa

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Trump administration from threatening election workers with criminal prosecution and trying to force changes to voter rolls or ballot processing. The order comes in response to a lawsuit filed by labor unions representing election workers in California as voting is already underway. The Department of Justice had recently sent letters to election officials across the country warning of federal scrutiny and potential prosecution.

ElectionsVoting RightsLegal ProceedingsGovernment Accountability
Read the full story at WFLA News Tampa

Why It Matters

Election officials nationwide are shielded from federal criminal threats and coercion regarding voter roll purges and ballot segregation while the underlying lawsuit proceeds.

Key Facts

  • U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from threatening election officials with criminal prosecution.
  • The order prohibits the administration from forcing workers to remove people from voter rolls, deny ballot requests, or set aside suspected noncitizen ballots.
  • The lawsuit was brought by unions representing California election workers, including SEIU and AFSCME, alongside LULAC and the NAACP.
  • The complaint accuses Attorney General Todd Blanche and DOJ officials of coordinating a campaign to intimidate and coerce election officials.
  • The DOJ recently sent letters to election officials in all 50 states threatening prosecution over election record preservation.
  • A separate federal lawsuit attempting to require California to set aside ballots of 20,000 potential noncitizens was thrown out by another federal judge, and upheld by an appeals court panel.
  • The judge noted the urgency of the ruling because Election Day was near and voting had already begun.

Who's Mentioned

OrganizationThe Hill“News organization reporting on the document”OrganizationWhite House“Contacted for comment on the judge's order”OrganizationNational Association for the Advancement of Colored People“Plaintiff organization involved in the lawsuit”OrganizationThe Service Employees International Union“Plaintiff union representing election workers”PersonTodd Blanche“Attorney General accused in the complaint of carrying out an intimidation campai”locationCalifornia“State where plaintiffs filed the lawsuit and where election workers operate”OrganizationAmerican Federation Of State, County and Municipal Employees“Plaintiff union representing election workers”OrganizationLeague Of United Latin American Citizens“Plaintiff organization involved in the lawsuit”OrganizationDepartment of Justice“Federal agency that sent letters to election officials”PersonTrina Thompson“U.S. District Judge who issued the temporary restraining order”