US Justice Dept demands California counties help identify suspected noncitizen voters

Key Points:

• The US Justice Department warned California election officials they could face federal scrutiny if they do not help identify suspected noncitizens on voter rolls and set aside their mail ballots pending citizenship verification, issuing letters with a 48-hour deadline.
• The letters, signed by Bilal Essayli, first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California, cited thousands of suspected noncitizens registered to vote in multiple counties, urging officials to segregate but not cancel these ballots until citizenship is confirmed.
• California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, condemned the Justice Department's actions as politically motivated attempts to undermine the election and unlawfully purge voter rolls.
• The Justice Department has intensified prosecutions of alleged noncitizen voters ahead of the midterms and filed lawsuits to block counting mail ballots from over 20,000 individuals they claim are likely noncitizens.
• Local election officials have pushed back against the demands, citing insufficient evidence from the federal government and emphasizing adherence to state and federal election laws.