DOJ Challenges California Over Noncitizen Voting Ballots
Federal prosecutors accuse California of failing to verify voter citizenship, prompting legal action over 20,000 ballots.
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California has admitted in federal court that it lacks an independent method to verify voter citizenship beyond what voters attest, according to federal prosecutors. The admission has prompted the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take legal action against the state, arguing that noncitizens are casting ballots in federal elections, thereby diluting the votes of American citizens.
California Admits No Independent Citizenship Verification
First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli took California to task on Tuesday afternoon following the state’s admission in federal court. Essayli highlighted that California officials simply take voters’ word for it when verifying citizenship, which is a violation of federal law requiring only citizens to vote in federal elections.
Massive concession: Los Angeles election officials just told a federal court they have no independent way to verify citizenship beyond what voters attest. (They simply take their word for it.) Under federal law, only citizens may vote in federal elections. Yet California has not acted on the list of 20,000 suspected noncitizens or agreed to set aside their ballots. American citizens’ votes are being diluted in California.
Newsom’s office responded to Essayli’s criticism, mocking his position as the First Assistant US Attorney.
California adheres to Federal Law passed by Congress in the 1990s [see 52 U.S.C. 20504(c)(2) (Section 5 of the NVRA)]
Essayli countered by citing federal law, emphasizing that officials who knowingly tabulate unlawful ballots risk aiding and abetting a federal offense.
Federal Law
The DOJ has been pushing for immediate action, requesting an emergency restraining order to prevent the tabulation of 20,000 ballots sent to suspected noncitizens. The department argues that once illegally cast ballots are counted and mixed with lawful votes, the resulting harm may be irreversible. The urgency is underscored by the fundamental right to vote and the importance of ensuring every lawful vote is counted without dilution.
The DOJ’s request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) comes after filing a federal lawsuit against California. The lawsuit, filed in the Central District of California on October 15, seeks an order preventing the tabulation of ballots belonging to individuals identified as likely noncitizens until their citizenship can be verified.
The DOJ stated that Homeland Security Investigations and federal partners reviewed voter registration records and conducted additional verification work to identify potential noncitizens. The case was assigned to Judge John W. Holcomb, a Trump appointee, on Tuesday evening.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
