The Justice Department’s voting rights compliance unit is shifting its focus to investigating voter fraud and safeguarding elections from suspicion, as detailed in an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. The new mission statement reorients the unit’s priorities around debunked conspiracy theories promoted by former President Trump, rather than the traditional enforcement of voting rights laws such as the Voting Rights Act. Despite multiple recounts and audits confirming the legitimacy of the 2020 election, Trump’s unfounded claims have persisted, influencing the department’s direction.
Under the leadership of Attorney General Pam Bondi in Trump’s second term, the Civil Rights Division is now overseen by Harmeet Dhillon, a Republican attorney aligned with Trump’s false assertions about voter fraud. This shift in focus has raised concerns among former Department of Justice officials, including Stacey Young, who emphasized the division’s historical commitment to ensuring voter access without advancing baseless allegations of widespread fraud.
The mission statement of the Voting Rights Section within the Civil Rights Division declares its goal as safeguarding free and fair elections, devoid of fraud or suspicion. It also outlines plans to enforce Trump’s executive order on election administration, despite legal challenges and constitutional concerns regarding federal interference in state election procedures. The order includes controversial provisions such as requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and setting strict deadlines for mail-in ballots, which contradict existing laws in many states.
Critics argue that the executive order oversteps constitutional boundaries by attempting to dictate election rules, a power reserved for states and Congress. Additionally, the emphasis on preventing noncitizens from voting overlooks existing laws that already prohibit such actions. The new mission statement signals a departure from the division’s historical focus on protecting voting rights and raises questions about its commitment to upholding democratic principles.
Voting by noncitizens may result in felony charges and deportation. Although only a small number of noncitizens have been found to have cast ballots, the concern persists among some Republicans, including Trump, who believe there could be more cases of noncitizens voting. This has led to efforts to tighten election laws to prevent noncitizens from voting. The Department of Justice currently focuses on investigating and prosecuting voting fraud through a separate division on the criminal side, while the voting section is a civil unit that does not handle criminal investigations. The voting section is now emphasizing its role in protecting American citizens’ right to have their votes accurately counted and tabulated, although there have been no widespread instances of improper vote tabulation. Justin Levitt, a former senior policy adviser for democracy and voting rights under President Joe Biden, highlighted the limitations of the voting rights section in pursuing prosecutions, as it must adhere to civil rights laws and court approvals.
