Trump Faces Legal Hurdles in Efforts to Influence Elections

WHO:

Alternet - President Trump has issued two executive orders regarding voting and elections.

Democracy Docket - Vice President JD Vance is involved in efforts to influence perceptions of California's primary election.

Democracy Docket - A Trump-appointed U.S. attorney is investigating the primary vote in California.

WHAT:

Alternet - Trump’s first executive order on voting has been frozen by lawsuits from voting rights advocates and various states.

Alternet - The Department of Homeland Security plans to create “State Citizenship Lists” of U.S. citizens over 18.

Alternet - The Trump administration filed a notice in court regarding plans to allow states to check voter eligibility using a federal database.

Democracy Docket - The FBI raided a Cleveland-based voter registration group as part of an investigation into voter registration practices.

Democracy Docket - The Department of Justice is defending Georgia’s voter suppression law, arguing states can purge voters even within 90 days of an election.

WHERE:

Alternet - The legal challenges to Trump’s executive orders are taking place in Boston and Washington, D.C.

Democracy Docket - The voter registration group that was raided is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Democracy Docket - California is highlighted as a focal point for Trump’s voting suppression efforts.

WHEN:

Alternet - The Department of Homeland Security plans to set up a special system by the end of this month.

Alternet - The Trump administration filed a notice in court on June 5.

Democracy Docket - Ohio is set to host a key Senate race this fall.

Democracy Docket - A federal appeals court is expected to fast-track an effort to overturn a lower court ruling regarding Trump’s executive order.

WHY:

Alternet - Trump’s efforts are aimed at ensuring there is no fraud in the electoral system.

Democracy Docket - The actions taken by Trump and his allies are part of a broader strategy to suppress voting ahead of the midterm elections.

HOW:

Alternet - The Trump administration is attempting to implement new voting measures through executive orders and federal agency actions.

Alternet - The Department of Homeland Security is working on a mechanism for states to receive citizenship-related information from federal agencies.

Democracy Docket - The Department of Justice is seeking unredacted voter rolls from all 50 states to check for noncitizens.

(UPDATED June 15, 2026 15:08 UTC)

President Trump has issued two executive orders aimed at voting and elections, although his first order is currently frozen due to lawsuits from voting rights advocates and various states. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance is actively working to shape perceptions of California's primary election, as a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney investigates the primary vote there. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security plans to establish “State Citizenship Lists” by the end of this month, while the Department of Justice defends Georgia’s voter suppression law, asserting that states can purge voters even within 90 days of an election.