The Department of Justice has warned election officials across the country that they could face criminal charges if they allow noncitizens to receive ballots or vote in federal elections.
The warning came in letters sent July 7 to election officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The letters were sent by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and signed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.
Dhillon told state officials that federal law requires them to maintain accurate voter lists and prevent ineligible people from voting.
“Any election officer, including the chief election officer of the state, who knowingly retains noncitizens on the state’s [voter list] or facilitates noncitizens in receiving and casting ballots could be subject to criminal liability,” Dhillon wrote.
The DOJ also told officials that it is a crime to stop eligible voters from casting ballots.
A Justice Department spokesperson said the letters were sent to seek voluntary compliance with federal election law.
“The Department sent these letters to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, asking for voluntary compliance in a timely manner with their obligations under federal law to ensure only citizens vote in federal elections,” the spokesperson told The Epoch Times.
Breitbart reported that the DOJ gave states five days to respond and explain how they intend to comply with federal law.
The letters come as the Trump administration has pressed states for voter registration data. Several dozen states have declined to provide the information, according to The Epoch Times. The DOJ has taken legal action against some states, but judges have so far ruled against the department in several cases. One judge ruled in June that the request included data outside the records states can be required to provide to the federal government.
Some state officials pushed back against the Justice Department’s approach.
Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said she received one of the letters and accused the department of targeting state officials who are following the law.
“I’m sure I’m not the only chief election officer of a state who is being targeted for following state and federal laws by resisting DOJ’s demands for private voter data that have thus far been ruled illegal by at least a dozen courts,” Henderson said in a post on Threads, according to The Epoch Times.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes also rejected the suggestion that state election officials are not doing their jobs.
“The suggestion that Arizona election officials are failing to do their jobs is simply not supported by the facts,” Fontes said.
Fontes said Arizona officials have worked to make sure only eligible citizens are registered and will continue following state law.
The DOJ letters also follow President Donald Trump’s push for the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act. The bill would require proof of citizenship in person to register to vote. Trump has said he will not sign other bills unless the Senate passes the election measure, according to Breitbart.
Dhillon also said July 7 that the DOJ will send election monitors to six states during primary elections this year. Those states are Arizona, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Virginia.
The department said monitors will focus on issues such as access to polling places for disabled voters and whether voting sites stay open for the required amount of time. Dhillon said the DOJ also wants to make sure lawful votes are not canceled out by votes from people who should not be voting.