Judge hears arguments from Fulton County officials after FBI seized 2020 ballots

A federal judge heard arguments Friday from Fulton County officials challenging the FBI's seizure of 2020 election ballots during a raid on Georgia election offices nearly two months earlier. The hearing represents the first judicial review of the government's decision to take the ballots and marks an escalation in disputes over election materials and their handling. Fulton County officials sought to compel the return of the materials or challenge the legal basis for their confiscation. The case touches on broader tensions over ballot security, chain-of-custody procedures, and federal authority over state election materials. The judge's ruling could determine whether the ballots are returned to Georgia officials or remain in federal custody.