Fulton County Challenges FBI's Seizure of 2020 Election Ballots

County files motion demanding return of ballots and election materials taken in unusual federal raid

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:07am

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Fulton County in Georgia has filed a legal motion challenging the FBI's seizure of ballots and other election materials from the 2020 presidential contest. The county is demanding the federal government return the seized items and is seeking to unseal the affidavit used to justify the search warrant. The extraordinary raid on the county's election headquarters has raised concerns about potential federal overreach in election matters.

Why it matters

The move by Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold, highlights growing tensions between state and local election officials and the Trump administration over the 2020 election results. There are fears the seized materials could be used by Georgia's Republican-controlled state election board to try to take control of elections in the Democratic-leaning county.

The details

Fulton County officials filed the sealed motion on Wednesday, days after FBI agents conducted a search of the county's election headquarters and seized more than 20 pallets of ballots, election tapes, and other equipment. The presence of Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, at the scene has further raised questions about the federal government's involvement. Fulton County says it is seeking to have the seized materials returned and the search warrant affidavit unsealed.

  • The FBI raid on Fulton County's election headquarters took place last week.
  • Fulton County filed its legal motion challenging the seizure on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

The players

Fulton County

The most populous county in Georgia, which includes much of the city of Atlanta and is a Democratic stronghold.

Tulsi Gabbard

The director of national intelligence, whose agency's involvement in elections traditionally pertains only to foreign influence.

Donald Trump

The former president who has continued to falsely claim his 2020 election defeat was rigged, and whose administration has made apparent efforts to search for evidence of widespread fraud.

Robb Pitts

The chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, a Democrat who vowed the county will fight to maintain control of its elections.

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What they’re saying

“We will not give one inch to those who seek to take control of elections in Fulton County — not today, not tomorrow, not ever. We're going to fight this in court with every resource we have.”

— Robb Pitts, Chair, Fulton County Board of Commissioners (New York Times)

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to unseal the affidavit used to justify the FBI's search warrant for Fulton County's election materials.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns about potential federal overreach in state and local election matters, as well as the ongoing political tensions surrounding the 2020 presidential election results.