Five Democratic-led states enact laws limiting federal access to election materials

Five states have enacted new statutes that limit federal law enforcement presence at polling locations and require judicial oversight before state election records can be seized. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland and Washington passed the measures in recent months, according to the Voting Rights Lab and CNN research.

The laws restrict officers from operating within 250 feet of polling places without local permission and direct state officials to seek court intervention before handing over ballots or machines.

Federal actions prompting state response The Trump administration has obtained 2020 election records from counties in Georgia and Arizona and is litigating for access to voter rolls in multiple states to identify noncitizen registrations. President Trump has signed executive orders restricting mail-in voting and stated last month he would take “anything necessary” to ensure election integrity.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the president is committed to accurate voter rolls free of ineligible voters. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated she had not heard of formal plans to station Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at polling sites.

State provisions and legal questions Connecticut’s law, effective July 1, bars law enforcement from polling places, drop boxes and counting sites without election officials’ consent. Maryland’s statute preserves its 10-day grace period for mail ballots postmarked by Election Day while the administration seeks a Supreme Court ruling that would end counting of late-arriving ballots in federal races.