Michigan Rebuffs DOJ Demand for 2024 Election Ballots

State officials accuse Trump administration of undermining election integrity.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 12:51am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A photorealistic painting of a lone ballot box sitting on a city street, the box's metallic surface reflecting the warm glow of the sun as it casts long shadows across the pavement, capturing the quiet tension and high stakes surrounding the battle over election integrity.Michigan's steadfast refusal to comply with the DOJ's demand for 2024 election materials reflects the state's commitment to safeguarding the integrity of its electoral process.Today in Detroit

Michigan officials have pushed back on a U.S. Department of Justice demand for Detroit-area ballots and other materials related to the 2024 election, accusing the Trump administration of trying to cast doubt on the integrity of U.S. elections. The Justice Department had sent a letter demanding ballots, ballot receipts and ballot envelopes to the clerk in Wayne County, home to the heavily Democratic-leaning city of Detroit.

Why it matters

The 2020 election remains a prominent concern for many Trump administration officials, who have continued to push false claims of widespread voter fraud. This latest request for 2024 election materials is seen as another attempt to undermine confidence in the electoral process.

The details

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, all Democrats, have vowed to fight the DOJ's request. They called the demand 'as absurd as it is baseless' and said the state is prepared to 'protect the people's right to vote.' The Justice Department has suffered multiple legal setbacks in its pursuit of election-related records, with judges ruling against requests in several states.

  • On April 19, 2026, the DOJ sent a letter demanding 2024 election materials from Wayne County, Michigan.
  • On the same day, Michigan officials released the DOJ's letter and their response, vowing to fight the request.

The players

Dana Nessel

Michigan Attorney General who has vowed to fight the DOJ's request for 2024 election materials.

Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Governor who has joined Nessel and Benson in opposing the DOJ's demand.

Jocelyn Benson

Michigan Secretary of State who has vowed to protect the state's election integrity against the DOJ's request.

Harmeet Dhillon

Assistant Attorney General who authored the DOJ's letter demanding the 2024 election materials from Michigan.

Kash Patel

FBI Director who pledged that arrests over alleged 2020 election issues are 'coming soon.'

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Michigan officials have vowed to fight the DOJ's request in court, setting up a potential legal battle over election integrity and voter access.

The takeaway

This latest move by the Trump administration highlights the ongoing efforts to cast doubt on the integrity of U.S. elections, even years after the 2020 contest. Michigan's refusal to comply with the DOJ's demand signals a continued commitment to protecting the state's electoral process and the people's right to vote.