Ahead of midterms DOJ warns state – The Trump administration is intensifying its efforts to strengthen federal oversight of electoral processes as the midterm elections approach. In a significant move, Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General heading the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, has dispatched formal correspondence to multiple state election authorities. These communications caution that officials could face “potential criminal penalties for those who fail to carry out their duties” when implementing federal election statutes.

The letters emphasize that the Civil Rights Division possesses dual enforcement mechanisms. Beyond seeking court orders to address legal violations, the division can pursue criminal prosecution. Dhillon explicitly stated in the correspondence, “In addition to the Civil Rights Division’s authority to seek injunctive relief for violations of these laws, we are also authorized to prosecute criminal violations.” This dual approach signals a more aggressive stance on compliance.…