DOJ Demands Names of All 2020 Election Workers as Well as Voter Lists from Across Country
NEWS & RESEARCH
The U.S. Department of Justice issued a grand jury subpoena seeking the personal contact information of thousands of employees and volunteers who worked during the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia, a move the county is fighting in court. Lawyers for the Democratic stronghold filed a motion to quash the request, arguing it is an "overbroad" act of political harassment intended to intimidate election workers and noting that the statute of limitations for federal crimes related to that cycle has likely expired. This escalation follows a pattern of federal efforts to seize past election records in swing states, including January's FBI seizure of Fulton County ballots, fueled by President Trump's persistent and debunked claims of widespread voter fraud. County officials and legal representatives warn that such demands threaten the safety of poll workers and risk further chilling participation in the electoral process.
SOURCES: PBS | New York Times
ANALYSIS & OPINION
DOJ significantly escalated its investigation into the 2020 election by subpoenaing the personal information of thousands of election workers and volunteers. This move, initiated by U.S. Attorney and Trump ally Dan Bishop, seeks sensitive data including home addresses and phone numbers, prompting Fulton County officials to file a motion to quash the request on the grounds of "harassment" and political intimidation. Since May, the Justice Department has demanded that nearly every state and Washington, DC, hand over election-related records and data, including full copies of statewide voter registration lists and ballots from previous elections. The administration has requested voting records from 48 states and the District of Columbia, with 13 states complying. The administration sued 30 states and DC for non-compliance. Thus far, six of those suits have been dismissed.
SOURCES: Democracy Docket | Brennan Center | Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HOW TO FIX IT
States should pass laws to protect election officials and their families.
Support lawsuits to block DOJ’s demand for voter information – the US Constitution gives Congress, not the executive, the power to regulate and administer elections.
