The Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated legal proceedings against Fulton County, Georgia, demanding the release of records from the 2020 general election. This suit, lodged on Friday at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, cites non-compliance with a federal subpoena by Fulton County officials as the impetus for the action.
The DOJ's legal action calls for Fulton County Clerk of Superior Court Ché Alexander and other election officials to produce all used and void ballots, ballot stubs, signature envelopes, and corresponding digital files from the 2020 general election. The request is part of a federal investigation to determine the county's adherence to federal election laws, particularly those pertaining to the preservation of election records.
"At this Department of Justice, we will not permit states to jeopardize the integrity and effectiveness of elections by refusing to abide by our federal elections laws." – Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon
A subpoena issued in October 2025 by the DOJ was met with resistance from Fulton County officials, who claimed that the requested records were sealed by the court due to prior litigation and could not be disseminated without judicial authorization. The Justice Department dismissed this explanation and proceeded with the lawsuit.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon emphasized the legal obligation of states to prevent vote dilution and affirmed the DOJ's commitment to upholding election integrity. The lawsuit seeks a judicial order compelling Fulton County to furnish the requested records within five days of the court's decision.
The legal skirmish unfolds amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to reinforce election integrity. Alongside the Fulton County case, the DOJ has also sued Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Nevada for refusing to hand over voter registration lists, raising the number of states facing similar legal challenges to eighteen.
Officials from the DOJ contend that federal law mandates states to make voter registration information available for review and to collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security to verify voter eligibility. However, these actions have provoked a strong rebuke from Democratic officials and left-leaning advocacy groups.
The legal battle over the 2020 election records is not merely a dispute over documentation but a significant test of the federal government's power to scrutinize and potentially reopen election processes years after the votes have been counted. The outcome of the case against Fulton County could establish a pivotal legal precedent for future election oversight by the federal government.
