In the US, a federal court prohibited the Department of Justice from threatening criminal prosecution of Election Commission employees On October 30, Federal Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order against the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The decision followed a lawsuit by labor unions and civil rights organizations, including SEIU, AFSCME and the NAACP. The court prohibited federal agencies from: threatening election officials with criminal prosecution for handling ballots in accordance with the law; demand that registered voters be removed from the rolls based on unsubstantiated claims that they do not have the right to vote; to demand a refusal to issue ballots or their separation from the general array on similar grounds; Force regional and local election authorities to stop processing ballots. DOJ is also required to notify states, counties and localities that have previously received injunction letters about the order. In addition, the agency must notify the court of pending search requests, grand jury subpoenas, and other requests for election records related to lists of alleged violators. The judge tentatively found that the federal agencies' actions could violate Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits intimidation and coercion of people promoting voting rights. The decision was made four days before the mid-term elections for the US Congress. The temporary ban is in effect until November 16. The next court hearing is scheduled for November 13, 2026.

In the US, a federal court prohibited the Department of Justice from threatening criminal prosecution of Election Commission employees On October 30, Federal Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order against the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The decision followed a lawsuit by labor unions and civil rights organizations, including SEIU, AFSCME and the NAACP. The court prohibited federal agencies from: threatening election officials with criminal prosecution for handling ballots in accordance with the law; demand that registered voters be removed from the rolls based on unsubstantiated claims that they do not have the right to vote; to demand a refusal to issue ballots or their separation from the general array on similar grounds; Force regional and local election authorities to stop processing ballots. DOJ is also required to notify states, counties and localities that have previously received injunction letters about the order. In addition, the agency must notify the court of pending search requests, grand jury subpoenas, and other requests for election records related to lists of alleged violators. The judge tentatively found that the federal agencies' actions could violate Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits intimidation and coercion of people promoting voting rights. The decision was made four days before the mid-term elections for the US Congress. The temporary ban is in effect until November 16. The next court hearing is scheduled for November 13, 2026.