Justice Department Directs California to Set Aside Ballots from Suspected Noncitizens
The Justice Department has mandated that California election officials identify suspected noncitizens on voter rolls and set aside their mail-in ballots. This directive was issued on Friday, with a warning that officials who count ballots from noncitizens could face criminal charges.
This action is part of the Trump administration's intensified scrutiny of voter rolls ahead of the midterm elections, driven by ongoing claims of voter fraud. California county election officials received letters requesting collaboration with federal agencies to determine citizenship status for individuals on a provided list.
Los Angeles County Clerk Dean C. Logan responded by emphasizing the importance of maintaining accurate voter registration records based on verifiable information. He criticized the DOJ's approach as intimidating, especially given the proximity to the election. The Justice Department has also filed a lawsuit against California and Los Angeles County to prevent the counting of over 20,000 mail-in ballots linked to suspected noncitizens, with a federal hearing scheduled for next week.
