Judge rejects US Justice Dept bid to block votes from alleged noncitizens in California

A US judge strongly rejected the Trump administration's request on Wednesday to temporarily block California from counting mail ballots for the upcoming midterm elections from over 20,000 registered voters, whom the department alleges are likely noncitizens. US District Judge David Carter issued the decision after a hearing in Los Angeles federal court, rejecting the Justice Department's request for a restraining order.

Never before has the federal government sought to coerce a state into abandoning its own constitutional election procedures, Carter wrote, emphasizing the risk of creating chaos and disenfranchising voters. The judge warned that a ruling in the administration's favor could erode trust in democracy, stating that once a vote is segregated, lasting harm has occurred.

California's officials noted the state's robust safeguards against noncitizen voting and argued the Justice Department's assertions were based on suspect data, potentially disenfranchising eligible voters. The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit and appealed the decision to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.