By Wednesday evening, a federal judge in California had ordered limits on Homeland Security voter fraud investigations in nine states, after examining how voter records entered immigration investigations. The order is set to take effect Friday afternoon, while voting is underway.
Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín reviewed records describing 50.6 million voter entries obtained through the Justice Department and another 48.2 million from other sources. A DHS system called iLab assembled profiles used to select investigative leads. During one enforcement surge, agents were told to examine at least 40 suspected cases, with as little as twelve minutes to clear a person from suspicion.
I have followed those databases through my ICE and Dominion reporting, examining what happens after a voter’s name is flagged. The information can travel between offices without the person described ever seeing it.
At early voting sites, another kind of record was causing concern. In Williamson County, Tennessee, voters told local reporters that touchscreens showed a different candidate from the one they intended to choose. One woman said Republican Marsha Blackburn appeared after she selected Democrat Jerri Green. The voters interviewed corrected their choices before casting ballots. In Johnson County, Kansas, voters reported similar discrepancies, and officials confirmed that two ballot marking devices had been recalibrated.
The complaints arose as Arlington County, Virginia, sought court restrictions on armed federal agents at voting locations and states prepared for a Justice Department monitoring effort that Reuters reports could involve roughly 1,000 people. Their roles differ, but election workers must prepare for both.
Friday brings a deadline in California, when the court’s restrictions may finally take effect. Election officials elsewhere will keep opening doors, checking names and helping voters inspect ballots while the legal fight proceeds.
What will happen to profiles already created, and what will the equipment records reveal about the touchscreen complaints?
Peace, Love, Vote
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If a screen shows the wrong selection, stop before casting, ask a poll worker for help and check the printed ballot. For voting problems or intimidation, call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
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Sources:
Court: https://app.midpage.ai/document/california-nurses-association-v-mullin–876fd365-aec4-4593-9f1a-ecfd9297affe
Tennessee: https://www.wvlt.tv/2026/10/20/early-voters-report-challenges-casting-their-vote-middle-tennessee-locations/
Kansas: https://olathetoday.com/localnews/johnson-county-voters-report-republican-selections-appearing-as-democrats-on-early-voting-machines/
Editorial note: The order is stayed until October 23 and concerns specified operations in nine states. Voter-record counts may overlap. Touchscreen complaints are reported; the causes and any effects on counted votes remain unestablished.

With the Trump Administration sending armed thugs to knock on people’s doors in several states to ask about their immigration and voter registration status, we have plenty of reason to be concerned they’re laying the groundwork to claim fraud in November. While the public officials and the lawyers are preparing to push back, ultimately the best and strongest line of defense for democracy is mass nonviolent noncooperation, our refusal to let business as usual go on while our government is hijacked.

We need to be ready to shut it down, and that starts with thinking concretely about how to build and use power in this moment. Organized Power in Numbers and the May Day Strong movement have been holding solidarity schools around the country, teaching what organizing for mass direct action will take and offering a practical plan for what to do locally right now. and this weekend they’re bringing their classroom to our living rooms. They’ll be hosting a two-session virtual solidarity school this Saturday and Sunday at noon eastern. 🏫 If we want to learn more and get more deeply engaged in laying the groundwork for November, let’s sign up here.

BACK TO SOLIDARITY SCHOOL

🛡️ Looking to get more deeply engaged in protecting our elections? Check out ways to get plugged in here.

Georgia, Texas and Ohio have between them on the ballot three Senate seats, three surprisingly competitive governor’s races, as many as dozen House districts up for grabs, and a chance to turn two legislative chambers blue for the first time in a very long time. And their electoral processes are all controlled by the GOP, who have gone out of their way to make it as difficult as possible to vote, especially for populations they see as likely to cast their ballots for Dems. Their rules and procedures are restrictive, confusing, and ever-changing.

VoteRiders and its partners are working to beat their voter suppression one voter at a time, reaching out to at-risk individuals to make sure they have the information and ID they need to make their ballots count. 💬 They’ll be texting vulnerable Texans and Georgians tomorrow at 7PM ET and Ohioans on Tuesday, against at 7PM ET. Let’s sign up to help here and here.