NORFOLK, Va. — During a press conference on Thursday, Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed that the Justice Department is not ruling out potential actions that could interfere with the certification process of votes in the upcoming midterm elections. Blanche emphasized, however, that any such actions would not stem from an intention to “improperly interfere with elections.”
This announcement comes amidst a growing concern over noncitizen voting, an issue the Trump administration has focused on, despite experts suggesting that it is a relatively rare occurrence. The Justice Department is currently considering further litigation against several states following a recent lawsuit against California regarding suspected fraudulent voting by noncitizens. California’s all-mail voting system has been at the center of this controversy, as it automatically sends ballots to registered voters.
In a landscape of heightened scrutiny over mail-in voting, Blanche highlighted the legal limitations of the Justice Department’s role in U.S. elections, which primarily involves protecting civil rights and prosecuting violations of election law. He pointed out that while private citizens and candidates have the right to challenge ballots, there are no federal laws granting the DOJ the authority to directly interfere with state and local election processes.
When pressed by reporters regarding the possibility of delaying ballot counting, Blanche acknowledged that while he cannot completely dismiss such a scenario, he is not making plans around interfering with the election process. “Am I planning my days around the election to be somewhere to not certify? Of course not,” he stated.
As the midterm elections draw closer, the implications of Blanche’s statements and the actions of the Justice Department could play a pivotal role in shaping the electoral landscape.
Photo credit: Anna Moneymaker
