Unpacking Trump's "Truths" on DOJ’s Controversial 60-Day Election Rule, Many of Which He Himself Allegedly Broke

“For 60 days prior to an election, the Department of Justice is supposed to do absolutely nothing that would taint or interfere with said election. They disobeyed their own rule in favor of complete and total election interference. I did nothing wrong; they did! The case is a scam, just like all of the others, including the documents case, which was dismissed!”—Donald Trump, Truth Social, 10/3/2024 (Archive.ph)

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Writing References:

• The Voting Rights Act of 1965: This law prohibits discriminatory practices in voting and protects the rights of voters. It includes provisions to oversee election practices in jurisdictions with a history of discriminatory practices.
• The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA): This act established provisions for voting system security and accessibility and aims to improve the administration of elections.
• The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA): This law requires states to offer voter registration opportunities and ensures the integrity of voter registration systems.
• 18 U.S.C. § 1951 (Interference with Commerce by Threats or Violence): While not specifically about elections, this statute is sometimes invoked in cases where election interference involves threats or violence.
  
• 51 U.S.C. § 211 (Interference with a Federal Election): This law makes it a federal crime to conspire to interfere with the lawful government functions related to elections.
• The Election Assistance Commission Act: This act established the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), which provides guidance and assistance to state and local election officials and helps to ensure that elections are conducted fairly and effectively.
• The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act: This law seeks to improve voting access for military members and overseas citizens, requiring states to provide easier access to registration and voting procedures for these groups.
• The Smith Act (18 U.S.C. § 2385): This act relates to the advocacy of violent overthrow of the government and could come into play if the election process is threatened by such actions.
• State Laws: Each state has its own set of laws regulating elections, including mechanisms for voting, ballot access, and the conduct of elections. Significant state laws can often relate to voter ID requirements, mail-in voting, and election security.
• The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA): This law aimed to regulate campaign financing more strictly but also includes provisions regarding political advertisements and campaign communications, which can be relevant to election conduct.
• 18 U.S.C. § 594 (Interference with the right to vote): This statute makes it a federal crime to damage, destroy, or otherwise interfere with someone's right to vote through intimidation or coercion.
• The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA): This law grants the right to vote and participate in federal elections for military members and overseas citizens, ensuring they can register and vote absentee.