DOJ demands that some California counties set aside alleged noncitizen ballots

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sent letters to county registrars across California, demanding that local officials set aside and verify ballots that may be associated with noncitizens. This move is part of an ongoing legal battle between California and the Trump administration's Justice Department, which has been focusing on the state in its efforts to identify and address potential noncitizen voting ahead of the midterm elections.

The letters, obtained by The Associated Press, give county officials 48 hours to provide identifying information corresponding with the alleged noncitizen ballots and to sequester any ballots where citizenship cannot be verified. The DOJ has requested information such as Social Security numbers, ID information, and registration details to help assess each person suspected of illegally registering to vote.

California's secretary of state and the Los Angeles County registrar have opposed these demands, arguing that they could delay the certification of votes and undermine the legitimacy of the midterms, as well as risk disenfranchising citizens.

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