DOJ gave California a voter list, a 48-hour deadline — and a threat of court action
The Trump administration is threatening emergency court action unless California officials investigate potential ineligible voters within 48 hours and set aside ballots from anyone whose citizenship they cannot verify, according to two letters sent to state officials from the Justice Department. Why it matters: With voting already underway, President Trump 's DOJ could delay ballots from eligible…
The Justice Department has delivered California a list of likely noncitizens and a 48-hour deadline to examine their citizenship status. If verification cannot be confirmed, ballots belonging to these individuals might be segregated rather than canceled. Acting Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter sent the letter to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan, along with a thumb drive containing likely noncitizens who received vote-by-mail ballots.
The letter urges officials to suspend signature verification and counting of ballots already returned. McCotter also warns that if California fails to implement this process by October 15, the United States will seek emergency court action. The DOJ has stated that only American citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections, and the department is seeking to ensure this rule is upheld.
Critics argue that these actions could unfairly impact eligible Californian voters, while supporters maintain the DOJ's commitment to preventing ineligible voting.
Written by urgent.news from Axios's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
