A US federal judge has rejected the Trump administration’s request to prevent California from counting mail-in ballots cast by more than 20,000 registered voters whom federal authorities suspect may not be US citizens. The ruling marks another legal setback for the administration’s efforts to increase federal oversight of elections ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
US District Judge David O. Carter ruled that the government had not justified its request to require California election officials to set aside the ballots until the voters’ citizenship status could be verified. The judge warned that the move could disrupt election procedures and risk depriving eligible citizens of their right to vote.
The Trump administration argued that ballots linked to suspected noncitizens should not be counted until their citizenship status was confirmed. However, California officials challenged the reliability of the federal government’s data, arguing that the list could include eligible voters, including naturalised US citizens.
Judge Carter also raised concerns about the timing of the request, noting that election officials were already processing large numbers of ballots. Separating the disputed ballots at this stage could create significant administrative difficulties and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The Justice Department’s legal challenge is part of a wider dispute over the federal government’s role in administering elections, a responsibility largely handled by individual states. The administration has argued that stronger verification measures are necessary to protect election integrity, while California officials maintain that the proposed intervention could unlawfully interfere with voting rights.
The ruling does not establish that the voters identified by federal authorities are noncitizens. Instead, it rejects the administration’s request to set aside their ballots based on the information presented to the court. The federal government is expected to continue challenging the decision through the legal system.
