Trump administration asks Washington to set aside hundreds of ballots from suspected noncitizen voters

Key Points:

• The Trump administration requested Washington state to set aside ballots from over 400 individuals it alleges are registered to vote without US citizenship, following a similar demand in California, aiming to challenge votes in key midterm election states.
• The Justice Department identified 1,500 votes cast by these individuals in past elections and asked Washington to withhold any ballots from them until eligibility is confirmed, despite the state's 5 million registered voters all receiving mail ballots.
• Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs criticized the timing of the request as an attempt to cast unfounded suspicion on the election results, noting some flagged voters last voted decades ago and questioning the data's accuracy.
• Similar legal actions have been taken in California and Alaska, with courts scrutinizing the Justice Department's demands and state officials defending voting rights against what they call unlawful overreach.
• The efforts come amid broader concerns about election integrity and voter disenfranchisement, with Washington officials also highlighting USPS changes that have affected legitimate voters.