SCOTUS rejects Trump's bid over disputed California ballots

The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's appeal on its dispute over more than 20,000 California ballots, which the president claims were cast by noncitizens. This decision is a setback for the administration, which has been engaged in a conflict with the state, claiming its efforts are necessary to ensure all eligible voters can cast and have their ballots counted as required by law. The court denied the application for an injunction pending appeal, according to an unsigned order from the court.

The administration had sued California in mid-October, alleging that it had identified over 20,000 noncitizens on the state's voter rolls. However, judges have repeatedly dismissed the administration's claims, stating that its lists contain factual errors and pose a risk of disenfranchising eligible voters. One judge even pointed out that when the administration asserted it had specifically verified more than 100 individuals as noncitizens in Nevada, the state was able to prove they were indeed citizens.

Although the court has often aligned with Trump, it has distinguished itself in cases concerning voting access. The president does not have constitutional authority over elections, which primarily falls under the purview of the states and Congress. Neither the White House nor the Department of Justice provided a response to Axios' request for comment.