DOJ seeks hold on 20,000 California ballots

The Justice Department on Monday filed notice it plans to appeal to the Supreme Court to set aside more than 20,000 California mail ballots from voters it calls likely noncitizens. A federal district judge and a divided 9th Circuit panel rejected the request. On Friday, Judges Mark J. Bennett and Gabriel P. Sanchez wrote that the relief risked disenfranchisement and could jeopardize Los Angeles County's entire election. They cited the Purcell principle and the National Voter Registration Act bar on systematic voter removal within 90 days of a federal election. Judge Patrick J. Bumatay dissented. The DOJ wants the ballots held until citizenship is verified. California and Los Angeles County say the federal list is unreliable and that many named people had no active registration and were never mailed a ballot. A watchdog group found at least 40 percent of the 20,000 names are not on the voter rolls. Last week the DOJ sent grand jury subpoenas to Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder employees and warned election workers of possible criminal prosecution for non-cooperation. President Trump claimed over the weekend that California has millions of noncitizen voters. Whether the Supreme Court will act before Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, remains unclear.