Federal investigators carried out a search at the Cleveland headquarters of an Ohio nonprofit dedicated to voter registration and community organizing, removing documents along with computer equipment, according to a board member who spoke on Friday.

The move represents another step by the current administration involving voting procedures and election-related activities across various states, occurring in a battleground where contests for governor and Senate seats are anticipated to draw intense competition this autumn.

Agents arrived at the offices of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative on Thursday, remaining for several hours to interview personnel, according to Prentiss Haney, who serves on the board of the group established in 2007 to advance criminal justice changes, racial equity, and broader access to the ballot.

Investigators also visited residences of individuals connected to the nonprofit to request discussions and details regarding claims of improper voting activity, Haney noted. He described the approach as relying on pressure and disruption, raising worries that the effort aims to undermine confidence ahead of upcoming votes.

Details on the inquiry's direction remain limited, though one source indicated on Friday that the examination centers on possible violations involving fraudulent registrations. The individual lacked authorization to discuss the matter openly and requested anonymity.

The Justice Department offered no statement on Friday, while an FBI representative in Cleveland did not reply to requests for information.

Authorities must demonstrate probable cause to a judge before obtaining a warrant for such actions. Specifics provided to support the request have not been disclosed, prompting Democrats to question the foundation amid ongoing worries about agency impartiality.

Candidates from the party running in key statewide races released statements on Friday voicing unease over the operation.

Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for governor facing Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, stated that any federal efforts to deter eligible residents from signing up to vote cannot be tolerated.

Senator Sherrod Brown, the Democratic candidate challenging Republican Jon Husted, urged the FBI to release full information on the searches and declared that attempts to pressure voters are misguided and ineffective.

Republicans have controlled the governor's office for two decades and occupy both Senate positions, yet they face concerns that Democratic gains in the midterms could threaten their hold.

Under President Trump's second term, the Justice Department has initiated multiple proceedings and reviews connected to voting processes and state election functions.

The FBI has collected ballots and records from the 2020 vote in Georgia's Fulton County and Arizona's Maricopa County, as well as from the 2024 election in Michigan's Wayne County, while also interviewing workers in Wisconsin's Milwaukee County, all located in competitive presidential states.

The department has filed suits against over 30 states and the District of Columbia for refusing to provide extensive voter information including birth dates and partial Social Security numbers, citing a need to verify citizenship through a Homeland Security system whose reliability has drawn scrutiny. Courts have rejected these requests in the cases decided so far.

Early in the term, Trump directed the Justice Department to examine ActBlue, the primary donation platform used by Democrats.

Claims of irregularities in registration work are commonly handled at the state level and often target paid canvassers. California launched a review earlier this year into payments offered for petition signatures, while Pennsylvania filed charges in 2025 against seven individuals for submitting false forms.

Lauer reported from Philadelphia, and Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed from Washington.