{
  "id": 17140000,
  "title": "Judge denies federal request to segregate California ballots, says it would 'wreak havoc' on voting",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/judge-denies-federal-request-to-segregate-california-ballots-says-it-17140000",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T22:57:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PBS NewsHour",
    "slug": "pbs-newshour",
    "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-denies-federal-request-to-segregate-california-ballots-says-it-would-wreak-havoc-on-voting"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A federal judge ruled against the Trump administration's request on Wednesday to halt California from processing up to 20,000 ballots belonging to people who are likely noncitizens, warning that it would cause chaos during the midterm elections. Judge David O. Carter stated that segregating ballots at this stage of the election would require new methods for sorting ballots and risk disenfranchising numerous voters. He emphasized that such actions would erode trust in democracy and be irreparable once a vote is segregated. The Justice Department has vowed to appeal the decision, and the ruling underscores the ongoing legal challenges surrounding federal control over state-run elections.",
  "summary": "A federal judge rejected on Wednesday a Trump administration request to stop California from processing the ballots of up to 20,000 people over allegations they are likely noncitizens, warning it would \"wreak havoc\" on the midterm elections.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "California election official says federal agents threatened him over ‘voter fraud’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/california-election-official-says-federal-agents-threatened-him-over",
        "published": "2026-10-28T21:04:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Judge denies federal request to segregate California ballots, says it would ‘wreak havoc’ on voting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/judge-denies-federal-request-to-segregate-california-ballots-says-it",
        "published": "2026-10-29T00:47:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}