Judge blocks federal pressure on election officials days before election

A federal judge imposed an emergency order blocking the Trump administration from pressuring election officials across the country in the final days before the 2026 midterm election. US District Judge Trina Thompson, appointed by President Biden, granted a temporary restraining order Friday evening barring the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security from demanding that election officials segregate ballots, purge voter rolls, halt ballot processing, or face threats of criminal prosecution. Thompson is also requiring the administration to inform her of any search warrant applications or grand jury subpoenas related to election officials.¹

What this means for how elections are run

The order stops federal agencies from demanding that election officials segregate ballots, purge voter rolls, or halt ballot processing.¹ The order also bars threats of criminal prosecution against election officials.¹