DOJ demands that some California counties set aside and verify alleged noncitizen ballots within 48 hours

Key Points:

• Federal prosecutors sent letters to at least 18 California counties demanding they identify and set aside ballots suspected to belong to noncitizens, escalating a legal battle over alleged illegal voting ahead of the midterm elections.
• The Justice Department alleges that over 20,000 people are "likely" noncitizen voters, with charges filed against 28 individuals for illegal registration and voting, though evidence of widespread illegal voting remains rare and unproven.
• California officials, including the Secretary of State and Los Angeles County registrar, oppose the federal demands, citing unreliable data and warning that the requests could delay vote certification and disenfranchise lawful voters.
• The DOJ's Civil Rights Division has filed multiple lawsuits to obtain unredacted voter rolls nationwide, aiming to screen for noncitizens, but has lost 26 cases so far and faces criticism for lacking evidence of significant voter fraud.
• California Senator Alex Padilla condemned the DOJ's actions as interference without credible proof, emphasizing that the federal government lacks authority to disrupt state election processes.