From Law & Crime · · 2m
California Blocks Trump Admin's Vote-By-Mail Ballot Challenge
California argues Trump administration's lawsuit targeting 20,000 noncitizen voters is a reckless political stunt that risks disenfranchising thousands.
In brief
California argues Trump administration's lawsuit targeting 20,000 noncitizen voters is a reckless political stunt that risks disenfranchising thousands. California says Trump administration's attempt to block vote-by-mail ballots for 20,000 alleged noncitizens is unlawful and threatens to disenfranchise voters…
California Challenges Trump Admin
California urged federal judge to block Trump administration's request to invalidate 20,000 Californians' vote-by-mail ballots.
DOJ's Alleged Noncitizen List
U.S. Department of Justice provided Los Angeles elections officials with a list of 'likely noncitizens' for 20,000 people.
Local Officials Reject DOJ Push
Los Angeles county officials refused federal demand to remove names from voting rolls and later sued the DOJ.
Trump Admin Sues for Injunction
Trump administration moved for temporary restraining order to prevent tabulating ballots of 20,000 alleged noncitizens.
California's 41-Page Motion
California filed a 41-page opposition motion arguing the 2026 midterm election is already underway.
Mail Ballots Already Sent
California counties began sending vote-by-mail ballots weeks ago with a dispatch deadline of October 5, 2026.
California Rejects Ballot Removal
California called Trump administration's demand to remove 20,000 ballots from counts 'impossible and unserious'.
Plaintiff's Disenfranchisement Risk
The motion states that sequestering ballots would have 'a devastating disenfranchising effect' on voters.
No Citizenship Verification Standard
Trump administration did not set a standard for verifying citizenship of 20,000 alleged noncitizens before the 2026 election.
DOJ Concedes Verification Impossible
The government admitted it is 'not practicable or feasible' to verify citizenship for 20,000 people before the 2026 election.
California's Motion Claims
California argues the lawsuit risks disenfranchising thousands of voters and threatens election integrity.
DOJ Failed to Provide Data
DOJ did not provide state officials with the 'suspect data' list of 20,000 people for verification.
Lawsuit Followed 48 Hours
California's lawsuit followed the DOJ's request less than 48 hours later.
30 States Sued by DOJ
The DOJ has sued 30 states to obtain unredacted voter rolls, with 26 cases decided in favor of states.
All Courts Reject Mail Voting Rules
All courts have rejected efforts to impose new mail voting rules weeks before the election.
California Calls It a Stunt
California describes the lawsuit as 'a reckless political stunt' that is 'unlawful as it is untenable'.
The takeaway
California says Trump administration's attempt to block vote-by-mail ballots for 20,000 alleged noncitizens is unlawful and threatens to disenfranchise voters.
