Federal Election Interference at the Polls Challenge (DSCC)
DSCC et al v. ICE et al
A pro-voting lawsuit seeking to stop the Trump administration from deploying law enforcement officers to polling places to unlawfully intimidate voters during the midterm elections.
Background
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Democratic Governors Association, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the Trump administration’s policy of sending armed officers into polling places during the midterms. Plaintiffs say President Donald Trump and senior administration officials have confirmed the policy through Congressional testimony, public statements, and ongoing FOIA litigation. Plaintiffs assert the policy is in furtherance of Trump’s crusade to federalize elections. The lawsuit challenges the policy under the Administrative Procedures Act as an unlawful violation of Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which bans any person from intimidating voters for the purpose of interfering with their vote, and a federal law prohibiting government officials from sending armed officers to polling places. Plaintiffs ask the court to block implementation of the policy and declare that the Trump administration lacks the authority to place armed officers at or near polling locations, dropboxes, and other places where votes are “taken, collected, received, counted, or certified.”
Why It Matters
Earlier this year, in response to a reporter’s question about armed agents at polling locations during the midterms, Trump said he would “do anything necessary” to make sure we have “honest elections.” This comment is representative of other statements and actions taken by the president and senior administration officials that demonstrate a willingness to deploy federal law enforcement to polling places, in direct violation of federal law. ICE, in particular, has been involved in many high-profile incidents and deaths in the past year and a half, including the arrests and killings of American citizens. Law enforcement officers’ presence at voting sites could intimidate lawful voters from participating in the midterm elections and disrupt election administration and the voting process.
Latest Updates
- Sept. 23, 2026: Plaintiffs filed their complaint.