Democrats sue to stop the Trump administration from overriding states on elections
Democratic Party leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have sued in federal court in Washington to block the Trump administration from taking over states’ role in running elections or pressuring election officials, The Associated Press reported. The case comes two weeks before the November 3 midterms.
What the lawsuit asks for: The suit seeks a court order barring the administration from purging legally registered voters from statewide voter registration lists or denying ballots to legally registered voters, according to AP. The plaintiffs also ask for a ruling that the administration illegally threatened state election officials with prosecution before the election, AP reported.
Who is suing whom: Besides Schumer and Jeffries, the plaintiffs are the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Governors Association, AP reported. The named defendants are President Donald Trump, the Justice Department, Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Department of Homeland Security and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The case was assigned to Chief Judge James Boasberg of the federal court in Washington, according to AP.
The California example: The suit cites the Justice Department’s recent lawsuit in California seeking to stop state officials from counting mail-in ballots cast by people the federal government identified as “likely” noncitizens until their immigration status can be confirmed, AP reported.
The administration’s response: The Justice Department said election integrity is a top priority and that its actions are grounded in law and under court litigation, according to AP.
Why it matters: In the United States, states and local officials run elections, including keeping voter rolls and counting ballots. The lawsuit asks a judge to decide where federal authority stops. A filing is a request, not a ruling; no decision had been reported.
Sources
- NBC News (The Associated Press) — Democrats sue to block Trump administration from usurping states’ authority to administer elections
- AP News — Democrats sue to block Trump administration from usurping states’ authority on elections
- The Washington Post — Democrats sue Trump, DOJ over effort to remove voters from state rolls