9th Circuit again denies Trump administration request to block 20,000 California ballots

Key Points:

• A federal appeals court for the second time denied the Trump administration's request to block 20,000 California ballots flagged as potentially cast by noncitizens, ruling that the administration failed to justify extraordinary relief during an ongoing election.
• The 9th Circuit panel emphasized that election procedures are governed by state law and Congress, not federal statutes misused to interfere with California's ballot processing, and noted concerns about the reliability of the administration's noncitizen voter lists.
• The ruling was welcomed by California officials and voting rights groups as a defense of the state's election integrity, while the Trump administration has threatened legal action against election officials who do not comply with its demands.
• County election officials are facing federal grand jury subpoenas related to the handling of the administration's demands, signaling ongoing criminal investigations into the election process.
• Separate legal challenges continue over the administration’s use of noncitizen voter lists, with courts ordering the release of these lists to advocacy groups for verification amid widespread concerns about their accuracy and potential voter intimidation.