State election officials are extending the retention of 2024 election records following litigation-hold notices from the Department of Justice.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: State election officials are preserving ballots and other records from the 2024 election after the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued litigation-hold notices, as the Trump administration continues its effort to obtain access to state voter rolls. Nevada officials instructed counties in a September 4 email to retain election materials indefinitely, while New Hampshire directed municipalities to preserve 2024 ballots until further notice. 📺 DETAIL: The two states are among roughly 30 states sued by the DOJ this year over access to voter registration records and other election data, with the department arguing that the information is needed to determine whether voter rolls are accurate and whether potentially ineligible registrations require further review. The preservation orders come as the Trump administration faces a series of court setbacks in its efforts to obtain comprehensive voter data, including a ruling blocking the DOJ from compelling Washington, D.C., to provide its full voter registration list, and similar decisions involving Maryland and Virginia. The DOJ has nevertheless continued expanding its election integrity efforts, including deploying federal election monitors to 15 jurisdictions in six states and warning state officials that facilitating noncitizens in voting could expose them to federal criminal liability. 🎯 IMPACT: The preservation of 2024 election records could give the Justice Department additional time to pursue access to voter registration data and examine potential discrepancies in state voter rolls. |
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