Federal Interference with State Election Officials Challenge (DSCC)
DSCC v. Trump
A pro-voting lawsuit to block the Trump administration from threatening state election officials with criminal prosecution and pressuring states to deny ballots to registered voters.
Background
The DSCC, DCCC, Democratic Governors Association, and the Nevada State Democratic Party filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to block the Trump administration from threatening state election officials with criminal prosecution during the 2026 midterm elections. The plaintiffs assert that the Trump Administration is supporting an “effort to unlawfully federalize elections” and threatening state officials that “they will all go to jail for a long period of time” if they do not comply with the Administration’s demands. Plaintiffs allege that intimidating state officials violates Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. The plaintiffs ask the court to bar the administration from threatening election officials and from directing states to remove registered voters from the rolls, withhold their ballots or refuse to count ballots they have cast.
Why It Matters
Recently, the DOJ has threatened California election officials with criminal exposure if they count ballots from voters the Trump administration has flagged as potential noncitizens. The lists that DHS has provided to states in the past have been highly inaccurate. With only two weeks until election day, this lawsuit aims to stop the Trump administration from maneuvers like this in other states.
Latest Updates:
- Oct. 20, 2026: Plaintiffs filed their complaint.