Justice Department warns state election officials of possible prosecution over noncitizen voting
How left and right are reading this
- Both agree
- States run elections, and the Justice Department is now demanding rapid, concrete assurances that voter-eligibility rules are being enforced before the midterms.
- The split
- They split on whether this is election oversight or federal pressure on states.
This is less a story about voter rolls than about who gets to police election rules: Washington or the states.
The Facts
- The Justice Department sent warning letters to election officials nationwide about noncitizen voting and voter-registration lists.
- Multiple outlets reported that the letters warned election officials they could face criminal liability or prosecution if they knowingly allow noncitizens to remain on voter rolls or to cast ballots.
- The letters were signed by Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
- States were asked to explain within five days how they will comply with federal voter-eligibility laws and prevent noncitizens from voting.
- Several reports said the letters were sent as the Trump administration increases pressure on states over election administration ahead of the November midterm elections.
- Election administration is primarily handled by states, and the Justice Department's letters seek changes or assurances from state officials about how they manage voter rolls and ballot eligibility.
- Some state officials have publicly objected to the letters, including Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, who said the Justice Department was making improper demands related to voter data and election administration.
Analytical frames for this storyTap to explore
Context
What did the Justice Department ask states to do?
The letters asked election officials to explain within five days how they will comply with federal law, ensure that only citizens vote in federal elections, and maintain voter-registration lists that do not include noncitizens Aol,NBC News,CBS News.
Who sent the letters and what legal risk did they describe?
The letters were signed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the Civil Rights Division, and they said election officers could face criminal liability if they knowingly retain noncitizens on voter rolls or facilitate noncitizens receiving and casting ballots Investing.com,CBS News,Oregon Live.
Why is this drawing attention now?
Several reports describe the letters as part of a broader Trump administration effort to press states on election practices before the midterm elections, an area traditionally run by states rather than the federal government Investing.com,U.S. News & World R…,TribLIVE.
Facts first. Then every angle.
The day’s biggest stories in one short brief — the facts everyone agrees on, then the competing values behind the headlines. Free in your inbox.
View all 61 sources
Wire services (2)
Independent coverage (50)
Arab NewsThe Trump administration is ramping up pressure on states to...
wglt.orgIllinois 'reviewing' DOJ's threat to prosecute state electio...
KHQAIllinois 'reviewing' DOJ's threat to prosecute state electio...
California GlobeUS DOJ Civil Rights Letter to Elections Officials in all 50 ...
American Urban Radio NetworksTrump DOJ Warns States Over Noncitizen Voter Rolls
The Daily CallerDOJ's Civil Rights Division Continues Its Election Integrity...
WJBCIllinois 'reviewing' DOJ's threat to prosecute state electio...
93.3 The DriveIllinois 'reviewing' DOJ's threat to prosecute state electio...
YahooTrump team threatens to arrest election officials if migrant...
Deseret NewsDOJ threatens Utah's lieutenant governor over election admin...
KGUNAZ Secretary of State pushes back on DOJ letter warning of e...
Legal NewslineDOJ warns W.Va. leaders of consequences if non-citizens vote
KAWCDOJ official to prosecute AZ election workers who allow nonc...
KOIN 6 PortlandOregon's top elections official says Trump admin has 'no evi...
Mail OnlineThe Trump administration is ramping up pressure on states to...
The Philadelphia InquirerTrump's DOJ said Pa. election officials could be criminally ...
Times UnionThe Trump administration is ramping up pressure on states to...
WBOC TV-16The Trump administration is ramping up pressure on states to...
The Daily GazetteThe Trump administration is ramping up pressure on states to...
The Daily BeastTrump Legal Goon's Crackpot Election Threat Exposed
The ColumbianDOJ threatens WA election officials with prosecution if nonc...
BreitbartJustice Department Vows Criminal Action Against States that ...
The GuardianTrump administration threatens states with criminal charges ...
WND'Not a suggestion': DOJ warns state officials it will prosec...
Resist the MainstreamDOJ Puts States on Notice With Major Election Move
Alternet.org'Truly bizarre behavior': Trump DOJ threatens election offic...
afrikdigest.comTrump's frenzied focus on investigating elections raises fea...
WV MetroNewsWest Virginia gets DOJ letter saying state officials could f...
RedstateHere Comes Harmeet: DOJ's Dhillon Sending Election Monitors ...
TribLIVETrump administration is ramping up pressure on states to cha...
710 KURV - The Valley's News/Talk StationDOJ Threatens States Over Alleged Noncitizen Voting
WHSM - HaywardDepartment of Justice warns election officials they could be...
U.S. News & World ReportThe Trump Administration Is Ramping up Pressure on States to...
UPIDOJ threatens state officials with prosecution for noncitize...
YahooDOJ threatens state officials with prosecution for noncitize...
NewsMaxDOJ Threatens to Charge Officials Over Noncitizen Voting
The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionDOJ warns states, threatens criminal action over noncitizen ...
Straight Arrow NewsDOJ warns election officials of possible criminal charges ov...
The Philadelphia InquirerJustice Department threatens top election officials over non...
Tickle The WireTrump DOJ Threatens Election Officials Over Noncitizen Votin...
TIMEWe're Conservative Republicans. The SAVE Act Is a Mistake
Honolulu Star AdvertiserDOJ threatens top election officials over noncitizen voting ...
American GreatnessDOJ Warns States of Potential Criminal Penalties Over Noncit...
NBC NewsDOJ warns of criminal charges for state election officials i...
MS NOWDOJ warns election officials of 'criminal penalties' over no...
AolDOJ threatens criminal action against states that allow non-...
CBS NewsDOJ threatens criminal action against states that allow non-...
Oregon LiveTrump administration threatens Oregon elections leaders with...
ABC NewsAhead of midterms, DOJ warns state officials of 'potential c...
YahooDOJ threatens WA election officials with prosecution if nonc...
About these frames
The Advocate: Liberty, speech, privacy, autonomy, rights, consent, choice. What freedoms are at stake.
The Architect: Stability, law, enforcement, institutional design, separation of powers, regulatory process, rule of law. How are order and governance maintained?
The Watchdog: Wrongdoing, responsibility, corruption, transparency. Who knew what, when, and what they did about it.
The Bridge Builder: Heritage, community, national identity, social cohesion, cultural preservation, trust, polarization. What does this mean for who people are and how they hold together?
See this differently than someone you know would? Two ways to keep it going.
The dial works on any URL — paste an article you read elsewhere this week.