Federal Judge Blocks DOJ Bid to Protect Alaska Election Integrity
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A federal judge rejected the Justice Department’s request to segregate ballots and delay certification in the Alaska Senate race, despite the administration’s concerns about ballot confusion and election integrity.
A federal judge has dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit aimed at segregating ballots and delaying the certification of the Alaska Senate race, saying the federal government lacked standing in the matter. US District Judge Sharon Gleason argued that such action would interfere with voters' rights to a secret ballot and said it was too late for courts to force major changes on the eve of the election.
The Trump administration had argued that the presence of a spoiler candidate with the same name as GOP incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan warranted a court-ordered investigation if Sullivan were to lose. Judge Gleason rejected the government's proposal, stating, "The United States provides no workable plan as to how it proposes to segregate ballots... in a manner that would preserve voter secrecy."
This ruling adds another setback for the Trump administration as it seeks to address concerns about state voting processes with the midterm elections approaching. Following the ruling, the Justice Department promptly filed a notice of appeal. A spokesperson for the department said that "Alaskan voters deserve a fair election, not to be misled in an attempt to rig outcomes."
While speaking to reporters, Trump described the DOJ's case as "one of the most meritful things" and a "very important lawsuit," even though he was not aware of the ruling at the time. In addition, courts have limited the administration's efforts to investigate alleged voter fraud and have restricted the DOJ's ability to pressure local election officials over noncitizen voting.
In the Alaska Senate race, Democrat Mary Peltola is challenging Sullivan, with recent reports suggesting Democratic involvement in his candidacy. The state's Republican governor has initiated an investigation and said he may oppose certification based on its findings. Opponents of the DOJ lawsuit, including Alaska officials and advocacy groups, argued that the matter had already been settled in state court and that there was no evidence of voter confusion regarding the ballot identifiers for the two candidates named Sullivan. Judge Gleason concluded that segregating the ballots would likely confuse voters further and discourage them from participating in the election.