US Court Allows Trump Administration to Keep 2020 Election Ballots Seized in Georgia

A United States court has reaffirmed that the federal government may retain 2020 election ballots and records seized from Georgia’s Fulton County, rejecting renewed attempts by county officials to recover the material.

US District Judge J P Boulee ruled that the Justice Department can continue holding over 600 boxes of election ballots and related records , which were seized by the FBI during a January 28, 2026 search of the county’s election hub near Atlanta .

The seizure was part of an ongoing federal investigation into alleged irregularities in the 2020 presidential election , including potential violations of laws governing retention of election records and fraudulent ballot handling .

Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia and a key Democratic stronghold, had argued that the seizure was unconstitutional, overly broad, and based on misleading claims , seeking the return of both physical ballots and electronic copies created by investigators.

However, in a detailed 68-page ruling , Judge Boulee concluded that while the FBI affidavit contained “defective and troubling” elements and the operation was “not perfect,” the legal threshold for returning the materials was not met. He said the county failed to prove callous disregard of constitutional rights , lack of probable cause, or procedural illegality in execution.

The court also found no evidence of irreparable harm , noting that the Justice Department had already provided copies of the seized materials to county officials, reducing the need for physical return.

Recent reporting also indicates the DOJ investigation has expanded into election administration practices in multiple jurisdictions , including subpoenas for information on thousands of Fulton County election workers , which has triggered separate legal challenges from the county over privacy and alleged overreach.

Fulton County has previously undergone multiple audits of the 2020 election results, including a hand recount, all of which confirmed Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia .

While the ruling strengthens federal control over the seized evidence, county officials are expected to consider further legal appeals as the broader investigation continues.