Justice Department Voting Division Shifts Focus, Prompting Concern Among Election Experts

Recent actions by the U.S. Department of Justice’s voting section signal a notable shift in the agency’s focus — from defending voter access to scrutinizing administrative aspects of election operations, drawing sharp criticism from voting rights advocates and legal experts.

In the past several weeks, the DOJ has taken a series of steps that critics say reflect a departure from the division’s traditional role. These include a lawsuit in North Carolina over voter registration records, warning letters sent to election officials in Arizona and Wisconsin about potential administrative violations, and a demand in Colorado for access to election records dating back to 2020.

While these actions may appear technical, experts say they represent a broader pivot in priorities, especially as veteran career attorneys exit the department and several voting rights cases have been dropped. The shift comes amid increased pressure from conservative activists and the lingering influence of former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

Some of the department’s recent inquiries have targeted politically significant states, including key presidential battlegrounds and states governed by Democrats — a pattern that raises questions about potential political motivations and future federal involvement in election oversight.

The DOJ’s moves also come amid broader changes within the department itself. Conservative voices have long called for a transformation of the DOJ’s approach to voting issues, demanding changes in both personnel and policy priorities.

Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order that seeks to overhaul the country’s election systems — a power constitutionally reserved for states and Congress.

With input from The AP