Officials from the Trump administration have filed a lawsuit against Fulton County, Georgia, seeking access to voting records from the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The legal action comes as former President Donald Trump continues to claim that the election was unlawfully taken from him.

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Details of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, demands that Fulton County provide:

• All used and void ballots
• Ballot stubs
• Signature envelopes
• Corresponding digital files

According to the complaint, local officials previously stated that these ballots were sealed and could not be produced without a court order. The Justice Department alleges that the county’s refusal to release the materials violates the Civil Rights Act.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon emphasized the federal government’s role in protecting electoral integrity, stating:

“At this Department of Justice, we will not permit states to jeopardize the integrity and effectiveness of elections by refusing to abide by our federal elections laws.”

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Background: Georgia and the 2020 Election

Trump narrowly lost Georgia to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, which was pivotal to his defeat in the Electoral College. Fulton County and the greater Atlanta area were central to Trump’s post-election challenges, and the former president has repeatedly questioned the results from this region.

Following the election, Trump made a now-infamous call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, saying:

“I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.”

Despite Trump’s efforts, Raffensperger’s office certified Biden as the winner of Georgia after multiple recounts and audits.

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Legal Context and Previous Challenges

The subpoena demanding the 2020 ballot materials was initially sent to Fulton County election officials in October 2025, citing federal oversight of elections and concerns about “vote dilution.”

Trump’s claims of election fraud have been rejected by numerous courts, and past legal challenges by his campaign were unsuccessful.

Fulton County later became the focus of criminal charges against Trump in Georgia, alleging an effort to overturn the state’s election results. Prosecutor Fani Willis brought racketeering charges related to a scheme to influence Georgia’s 2020 election, which Trump pleaded not guilty to in August 2023. A judge dismissed the case earlier in December 2025, following procedural challenges and Trump’s return to the White House, which put the case on hold.

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Significance of the Lawsuit

This lawsuit highlights ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding state-level election oversight and the federal government’s efforts to obtain records for review. Legal experts note that state-level cases, like the Georgia investigation, are particularly significant because a president cannot pardon themselves for violations of state law.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have implications for:

• Federal election oversight
• Transparency in vote counting
• Public confidence in U.S. elections

Fulton County officials have not issued a comment regarding the Justice Department’s lawsuit.