The U.S. Department of Justice is currently evaluating potential criminal charges against election officials who may compromise the accuracy of vote counts through negligence or poor oversight, according to individuals familiar with the matter.
Sources report that officials working under U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi are assessing legal strategies to ensure accountability among state and local election personnel. The initiative reflects an effort by the Trump administration to enforce stricter standards in election conduct.
Charges could be pursued if federal authorities determine that electronic voting machines are improperly calibrated or vulnerable to hacking. This mirrors previous concerns raised about Dominion Voting Systems in the 2020 election.
There is no new executive order or recent specific incident that sparked this review. Instead, it is rooted in longstanding conservative concerns over election security and the potential for fraud.
While federal law outlines broad election standards, implementation and oversight have traditionally been the responsibility of state and local governments.
In response to the directive, Justice Department lawyers have been ordered to investigate whether failing to follow cybersecurity protocols with voting machines could qualify as criminal negligence or mismanagement.
This process has included outreach to various election officials across the United States to gather