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Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, has instructed officials from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate election practices across the country as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to enforce federal election laws.
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is taking the lead on this initiative, which involves requesting information from states regarding their election practices and voter registration lists, also known as “voter rolls,” with a focus on identifying any noncitizens listed.
“Maintaining clean voter rolls is crucial for ensuring secure elections. It serves as the basis for election integrity,” a source from the DOJ informed Fox News. “There have been several states that have shown a pattern of noncompliance by failing to keep their voter rolls updated. This DOJ is taking action to address this issue.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks alongside President Donald Trump on recent Supreme Court rulings in the briefing room at the White House on June 27, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Some states, such as Wisconsin and Utah, have made public recent correspondence related to elections that they exchanged with the DOJ on their state websites. The Republican secretary of state in New Hampshire declined a request from the DOJ to provide a statewide voter database, citing state laws that prohibit such sharing of data.
The DOJ sent unusual demand letters to various local election offices in California, requesting detailed personal information about any noncitizens found on voter registration lists.
One of the recipients, Orange County, resisted the request, leading to a lawsuit from the DOJ. Attorneys for the county argued that county election officials were authorized by federal law to withhold sensitive voter information.
The recent surge in activity is a result of an executive order signed by Trump in March, tasking the attorney general with collaborating with states on election integrity, a top priority for the administration following the 2020 election. Trump directed the DOJ to review how states manage their voter registration lists, establish information-sharing agreements with states, assist states in prosecuting election-related crimes, and take punitive actions against uncooperative states.
An election worker removes a ballot from an envelope to count and inspect the pages inside the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC) on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
Several Democrat-led states filed lawsuits against the order, and a federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked certain provisions, stating that “the Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections.” The DOJ is appealing this decision.
Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., criticized the DOJ’s actions, suggesting that they were intended to suppress the voting rights of racial minorities.
“These efforts, under the guise of combating fraud, will disproportionately impact voters of color, low-income communities, and active-duty military personnel,” Durbin remarked.
Trump has frequently raised concerns about voter fraud, claiming that it is widespread and that illegal immigrants are participating in elections. However, there is limited evidence to support these allegations.
While states have identified noncitizens on voter rolls and removed them as part of routine maintenance, instances of noncitizens casting ballots are rare. A recent analysis by the Center for Election Innovation and Research confirmed that the existing safeguards are largely effective.
Last October, a Chinese national allegedly voted in the 2024 election in Michigan. The individual, a University of Michigan student residing legally in the U.S., used his student identification details and other information to complete a same-day voter registration form. He was subsequently charged with voter fraud and perjury.
