Supreme Court rejects Trump's ballot request

The Supreme Court on Monday swiftly rejected the Trump administration's emergency request that California separate out up to 20,000 mail-in ballots allegedly from noncitizens.

Court acted without hearing California's side

The court rejected the request so quickly it did not even ask California for its views first, as it normally does of the opposing party in such cases.

Lower courts had already ruled against Trump

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration's claims, saying there was no evidence Congress intended federal law barring noncitizens from voting to pre-empt state election laws.

California says noncitizen voting is already illegal

California officials resisted the Justice Department's intervention, noting that it is already illegal under state law for noncitizens to vote and expressing skepticism about federal government information accuracy.

Trump administration threatened prosecution

The administration warned California election officials they could face prosecution if they allow noncitizens to vote. A federal judge told the Justice Department on Saturday to stop making such threats.

Trump's noncitizen voting claims lack evidence

Trump has long claimed, without evidence, that millions of noncitizens illegally vote in U.S. elections. Experts say it rarely happens.

Federal effort already faced setbacks

When the federal government said it had confirmed 185 noncitizens registered to vote in Nevada, the state responded that all of them were, in fact, citizens.

Ballots already processed cannot be separated

Thousands of mail-in ballots have already been submitted and processed in California. Once officials check validity by signature, identifying details are discarded before counting, making retroactive identification impossible.

California vows to keep fighting federal pressure

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the decision should end the administration's attempt to disrupt elections through emergency court orders, but added the state will remain vigilant against federal efforts to undermine democracy.

“This latest decision should put an end to the administration's attempt to disrupt California's elections through emergency court orders.”