Justice Department Challenges California’s Mail-in Ballot Eligibility
Justice Department sues California over mail-in ballot eligibility, citing possible noncitizen voters.
2 min read
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against California, seeking to block the state from counting mail-in ballots from individuals the federal government identifies as likely noncitizens until their citizenship can be verified. The legal action comes after Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter sent letters to California officials, warning of potential legal consequences if they failed to review a list of suspected noncitizens who had received mail-in ballots for the November 3 election.
Legal Demands and Data Security Concerns
The DOJ provided the list of names on a password-protected thumb drive to Los Angeles County officials, giving them 48 hours to review the names and set aside ballots from individuals whose citizenship could not be confirmed. The department also requested that California stop sending ballots to listed individuals who had not yet received one and to hold returned ballots from these individuals until their citizenship status was verified.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office criticized the DOJ’s actions, stating that the department had not provided the list to their office and that the request lacked legal justification. Weber’s office emphasized that the DOJ’s efforts to access state voter data were unlawful and could undermine public trust in the electoral system.
County Officials Resist Access to Sensitive Data
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan stated that his office would not access the contents of the thumb drive, citing concerns over data privacy and information security protocols. Logan noted that the device was not considered a secure medium and that the letter did not specify the number of individuals involved or the information contained in the records.
DOJ Clarifies Legal Stance
The Justice Department clarified that it was not asking California to purge voter rolls or cancel votes. Instead, the department sought a court order requiring the state to set aside ballots from individuals identified as likely noncitizens until their citizenship could be confirmed. The lawsuit claims the list contains more than 20,000 names, highlighting the scale of the issue.
Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that state-facilitated voter fraud is unacceptable and warned that if California was found responsible, it would severely undermine confidence in the electoral system. The DOJ reiterated its commitment to uncovering voter fraud and restoring trust in American elections.
Source: Daily Wire
