California processes ballots. Trump's Justice Department panics

Key Points:

• The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sought an emergency hearing from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals over California's normal ballot processing, revealing a lack of awareness that ballots were being counted timely and transparently in Los Angeles.
• This move is part of a broader effort by the DOJ under the Trump administration to challenge California's election process, rooted in unfounded claims of widespread illegal voting by undocumented immigrants, despite minimal indictments and error-ridden voter lists.
• Trump lawyers requested expedited court intervention to halt or segregate ballots they suspect to be illegal, but evidence of widespread voter fraud is lacking, and the legal arguments have faced skepticism regarding federal jurisdiction over state-run elections.
• The appellate judges questioned the DOJ’s claims and jurisdiction, highlighting states' constitutional authority over elections under the 10th Amendment, and the case's timing appears linked to ongoing disputes about the federal government's voter data collection practices.
• The outcome of a related case in Washington, D.C., challenging the government's voter information gathering, may influence rulings in California, suggesting the DOJ's emergency request may be more about political strategy than genuine legal urgency.