DOJ Issues Warning on Criminal Consequences for Non-citizen Voting

WHO:

CBS News - Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

CBS News - President Trump.

CBS News - Adrian Fontes, Arizona Secretary of State.

WHAT:

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ's Civil Rights Division has warned that any election officer who knowingly retains noncitizens on voter registration lists or facilitates their voting could face criminal liability.

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ's letters requested state officials to explain how they intend to comply with federal law and ensure non-citizens do not cast ballots.

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ has experienced 11 losses in district court regarding its fight for voter rolls, with no court ordering a state to provide that sensitive data.

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ intends to share the data collected from voter rolls with the Department of Homeland Security for criminal and immigration enforcement.

Democracy Docket - The DOJ will send federal election monitors to 15 jurisdictions in six states during the 2026 primary season.

Democracy Docket - Harmeet Dhillon stated that the monitoring program is routine, noting that the DOJ sent monitors to nine jurisdictions during the 2022 primaries and 27 jurisdictions during the 2024 election.

Democracy Docket - Dhillon indicated that the monitoring program will expand before the general election, saying, "Stay tuned as we get towards the general election where there’ll be an even more expanded program for vote monitors."

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ's Civil Rights Division chief Harmeet Dhillon stated that "Any election officer, including the chief election officer of the state, who knowingly retains noncitizens on the state's [state voter registration list] or facilitates noncitizens in receiving and casting ballots could be subject to criminal liability."

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes defended his state's efforts, stating, "the suggestion that Arizona election officials are failing to do their jobs is simply not supported by the facts."

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - Fontes added, "It is insulting to insinuate that the good people at our county recorders' offices across the state are not doing their jobs correctly."

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - Trump signed an executive order earlier this year that would create federal lists of eligible voters and bar the U.S. Postal Service from mailing ballots to anyone who isn't listed, though that measure was blocked by a federal judge.

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ has lost 11 district court cases and its first appeal in its effort to force states to hand over unredacted statewide voter rolls, with no court ordering a state to provide that sensitive data.

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ's Civil Rights Division chief Harmeet Dhillon stated that the monitors will look at issues including language access, disability access, and whether polling places are open for the required amount of time.

Democracy Docket - The DOJ announced it will send federal election monitors to 15 jurisdictions in six states during the 2026 primary season.

Democracy Docket - The states where monitors will be deployed include Arizona, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Virginia.

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ's letters requested state officials to explain how they intend to comply with federal law and ensure non-citizens do not cast ballots.

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated, "It is also a crime for two or more people to conspire to deprive people of their constitutional rights."

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - President Trump has pushed the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require Americans to show proof of citizenship in-person to register to vote.

CBS News - The Justice Department sent letters to election officials in all 50 states threatening criminal action if they knowingly allow non-U.S. citizens to vote or remain on voter rolls.

CBS News - Each state was given five days to respond to the DOJ's request for compliance with federal law.

CBS News - The DOJ warned that any election officer who knowingly retains noncitizens on voter registration lists or facilitates their voting could face criminal liability.

CBS News - The DOJ has experienced 11 losses in district court regarding its fight for voter rolls.

WHERE:

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ sent letters to election officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

CBS News - Letters were sent to election officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

CBS News - Specific letters were reviewed from officials in Arizona, Michigan, and Maine.

WHEN:

CBS News - The letters were sent on a Tuesday, with a five-day response deadline.

CBS News - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a ruling siding with Michigan last month.

WHY:

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ aims to ensure compliance with federal laws that require states to maintain clean voter rolls and prevent non-citizen voting.

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - Dhillon criticized leaders in Michigan, stating that the state’s attorney general and governor “don’t like the fact that we’re doing this.”

CBS News - The DOJ aims to ensure compliance with federal laws that require states to maintain clean voter rolls and prevent non-citizen voting.

CBS News - President Trump has claimed that non-U.S. citizens frequently vote in federal elections, despite evidence showing that such instances are rare.

HOW:

Democracy Docket - The DOJ's monitors will look at issues including language access, disability access, and whether polling places are open for the required amount of time.

[09:35 PM EDT] - CBS News - The DOJ intends to share the data collected from voter rolls with the Department of Homeland Security for criminal and immigration enforcement.

CBS News - The DOJ is litigating against states to obtain unredacted voter rolls for compliance screening.

CBS News - The DOJ intends to share the collected data with the Department of Homeland Security for screening non-citizen voters.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 22:20 UTC)

The Department of Justice has issued a warning to election officers across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, stating that those who knowingly keep noncitizens on voter registration lists or allow them to vote could face criminal charges. In letters sent to state officials, the DOJ has requested explanations on how they plan to comply with federal laws aimed at maintaining clean voter rolls and preventing non-citizen voting. Additionally, the DOJ intends to share collected data from voter rolls with the Department of Homeland Security for purposes related to criminal and immigration enforcement.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 21:19 UTC)

The Department of Justice will deploy federal election monitors to 15 jurisdictions across six states during the upcoming primary season. Harmeet Dhillon emphasized that this monitoring program is routine, recalling that the DOJ sent monitors to nine jurisdictions in the 2022 primaries and 27 during the 2024 election, with plans for an expanded program ahead of the general election. These monitors will focus on various issues, including language access, disability access, and ensuring polling places are open for the required amount of time.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 20:23 UTC)

The chief of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, warned that any election officer, including state chief election officers, could face criminal liability for knowingly retaining noncitizens on voter registration lists or allowing them to vote. In response, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes defended his state's election officials, asserting that claims of their incompetence are unfounded and insulting to their hard work. Additionally, the DOJ plans to share data from voter rolls with the Department of Homeland Security to assist in criminal and immigration enforcement efforts.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 16:30 UTC)

Trump signed an executive order earlier this year aimed at creating federal lists of eligible voters and preventing the U.S. Postal Service from mailing ballots to anyone not on those lists, although a federal judge has blocked this measure. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has faced setbacks, losing 11 district court cases and its first appeal in trying to compel states to release unredacted statewide voter rolls, with no court ordering any state to provide that sensitive information. Harmeet Dhillon, chief of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, mentioned that monitors will assess various issues at polling places, including language and disability access, while also criticizing Michigan's leaders for opposing these efforts.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 07:49 UTC)

The Department of Justice has announced plans to send federal election monitors to 15 jurisdictions across six states during the upcoming primary season. These states include Arizona, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Virginia, with Harmeet Dhillon noting that this monitoring program is routine, as monitors were previously deployed to nine jurisdictions in 2022 and 27 in 2024. Dhillon also mentioned that the program will expand ahead of the general election, stating, "Stay tuned as we get towards the general election where there’ll be an even more expanded program for vote monitors."

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 05:55 UTC)

The Department of Justice has sent letters to state officials asking them to clarify how they plan to comply with federal law and prevent non-citizens from voting. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon emphasized that it is a crime for two or more individuals to conspire to deprive others of their constitutional rights. Meanwhile, President Trump is urging the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, which would mandate that Americans provide proof of citizenship in person to register to vote, as the DOJ plans to share voter roll data with the Department of Homeland Security for enforcement purposes.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 02:55 UTC)

The Justice Department has sent letters to election officials in all 50 states, warning that they could face criminal action if they knowingly allow non-U.S. citizens to vote or remain on voter rolls. Each state has been given five days to respond to this request for compliance with federal law, as the DOJ aims to ensure clean voter rolls and prevent non-citizen voting. President Trump has previously claimed that non-citizens frequently vote in federal elections, despite evidence indicating that such occurrences are rare.