WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has been seeking to force states to set aside ballots amid accusations of noncitizen voting and possible voter confusion following the recent election, but federal judges have largely rejected those requests, officials and court records show.
The efforts, part of broader post-election challenges to election integrity, targeted battleground states where the administration alleged voting irregularities warranted further scrutiny. In multiple rulings, federal judges found the administration had not presented sufficient evidence of widespread noncitizen voting or voter confusion to justify setting aside certified ballots.
States pushed back, arguing the requests would disrupt election administration and undermine voter confidence. Several governors and secretaries of state from both parties pushed back, stating there was no evidence of mass noncitizen voting and that the requests were politically motivated.
The legal challenges came as the administration continues to dispute election outcomes in various races. However, judges in several districts emphasized that election administration is a state responsibility and that bare allegations without concrete evidence are insufficient to overturn or set aside certified results.
The rulings represent a significant setback for the administration's efforts to challenge election results through procedural means. With federal courts signaling skepticism, the focus now shifts to state-level election oversight and the ongoing debate over voting access and integrity.
