The Justice Department is investigating whether it can charge local and state election officials who do not follow the Trump administration's standards on voting security, according to multiple reports.
The use of computer systems that have not been sufficiently safeguarded is a primary reason DOJ officials are exploring the situation, The New York Times reported.
The Times added that the DOJ remains in the early stages of evaluating the option, which is not based on new evidence, data, or legal authority. As of this point, lawyers have struggled to find a criminal statute to match the administration's demands.
President Donald Trump and allies have maintained that voter fraud in several key battleground states determined the 2020 presidential election, in which former President Joe Biden defeated Trump.
In March, Trump signed an executive order that ordered the attorney general and Homeland Security secretary to "prevent all non-citizens from being involved in the administration of any Federal election, including by accessing election equipment, ballots, or any other relevant materials used in the conduct of any Federal election."
It also orders the secretary of homeland security to "review and report on the security of all electronic systems used in the voter registration and voting process."
"The president's executive order speaks for itself, and the Department of Justice will leave no option off the table when it comes to promoting free, fair, and secure elections," DOJ spokesman Gates McGavick told the Washington Examiner.
Historically, elections have been managed by state and local officials, with limited involvement or oversight from the federal government.
DOJ officials already have begun to reach out to election officials across the country, according to the Times. At least two states were contacted with broad requests about information sharing. Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Colorado were among states asked for more information regarding their voting practices.
Trump opponents insist elections already are run fairly.
"The tactics we're seeing out of DOJ right now are building on what we've seen from anti-democracy groups for years," Dax Goldstein, program director of election protection at the States United Democracy Center, told the Times.
"They're rooted in the same lies about elections, and they're all meant to create noise and fear and concerns about issues with our elections that just don't exist. Our elections are safe and secure, and election officials are working to keep them that way."
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.