Court Bars Trump Administration From Sending Lists of Voters With Questioned Citizenship

A federal court in Washington has blocked the Trump administration from sending a list of voters whose citizenship was questioned to election officials in several states. The court also barred the administration from seeking to separate ballots cast by those voters or prevent their votes from being counted until their citizenship is verified. The order was issued on Monday, November 2, by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan. The decision drew renewed attention on Tuesday, November 3, the day of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security had planned to send lists of voters to election officials in several states. The lists included people whose citizenship status had been questioned by the administration. Government officials claimed that some individuals on the lists might not be U.S. citizens.

the court raised concerns that the government's lists could contain inaccurate information. As a result, eligible American citizens could face difficulties exercising their right to vote simply because their names appeared on the lists.

Several organizations working to protect voting rights and personal information challenged the administration's plan in court. They argued that using voters' personal information without sufficient evidence could create obstacles for eligible citizens and threaten their voting rights.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, argued that its actions were intended to ensure that only eligible U.S. citizens participate in federal elections. Under U.S. law, noncitizens are generally prohibited from voting in federal elections.

The administration's efforts have also faced legal challenges in other cases. Earlier, a court rejected an attempt involving more than 20,000 mail-in ballots in California. The administration also failed to obtain relief from the U.S. Supreme Court in that dispute.

Election administration in the United States is primarily handled by individual states. This has raised questions about how much authority the federal government can exercise when reviewing voter registration records and citizenship information.

The latest court order represents another legal setback for the Trump administration's efforts to share lists of questioned voters with state election officials and challenge the handling of their ballots. The decision has renewed debate over voting rights, citizenship verification and the balance of power between the federal government and state election authorities in the United States.