US court temporarily bars prosecution threats against election workers
The 30 October order restricts specified actions by the Justice and Homeland Security departments. It sets a 16 November expiry and a 13 November hearing.
A temporary restraining order protecting election workers was issued on 30 October 2026 by US District Judge Trina L. Thompson in SEIU v. Department of Justice, 26-cv-12800-TLT. The eight-page court document, ECF 26, concerns the Justice and Homeland Security departments and their officials ahead of the 3 November election.
The order bars threats, intimidation or coercion of state and local election workers to halt processing registered voters’ ballots solely because the federal administration alleges those voters are ineligible. It also covers demands to remove specific registered voters, refuse them ballots, or segregate or not count their ballots on that basis alone.
It prohibits threats of criminal prosecution for refusing those demands or for processing and counting ballots in compliance with state and federal law. Recipients of relevant federal letters must be told that the demands and threats have been enjoined. The Justice Department must also inform the court of any pending related warrant applications, subpoenas or demands for access to election materials.
The judge found the requirements for emergency relief met and that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed. This is a temporary measure, not a final judgment on the lawsuit. The document sets expiry at 17:00 on 16 November, in the court’s local time, and a preliminary injunction hearing on 13 November.
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