Federal Deadline Forces California to Verify 20,000 Ballots Before Midterms
State officials argue the 48-hour demand risks disenfranchising citizens just days before voters head to the polls.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
Federal prosecutors have given California election officials 48 hours to verify the citizenship status of roughly 20,000 voters, a demand that arrived less than two weeks before the midterm elections. The rapid timeline has triggered a legal dispute and sharp criticism from state leaders who argue the process is too compressed to be fair.
Attorney General Rob Bonta accused the Justice Department of using the law as a political tool. "It is once again the United States Department of Justice politicizing and weaponizing the law to attack its enemies, and it is completely improper," Bonta told MS Now. He stated that the department is acting at the direction of President Donald Trump.
Los Angeles election officials warned that the directive could remove eligible citizens from the rolls. They noted that a high percentage of the individuals on the federal list were born in the United States. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the effort on social media, calling it an "Absolute clown show!" He pointed out that the federal government sent counties lists containing people who never voted and voters from the wrong county.
The Justice Department framed the request as a necessary security measure. Officials said they were asking county election officials to provide information so the Department of Homeland Security could quickly verify citizenship status. "With their help, we can ensure the most secure election in California history," the department said. This move aligns with a wider national push by Republicans to scrutinize voting records.
Bonta questioned the basis for the federal list. He said officials received only names without an explanation of why those specific people were deemed ineligible. "If they have such information, we would be happy to review it, but they've provided none," he said. Congressman Pete Aguilar, who represents part of San Bernardino County, described the situation as voter intimidation.
The conflict follows recent charges against 28 foreign nationals for fraudulently registering to vote. Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney, said the arrests proved that California was mailing ballots to noncitizens. The defendants are lawful permanent residents who hold legal status in the US but are not citizens eligible to vote.
Some state officials did not act on the letters sent Friday because of the approaching election date. This inaction started a legal fight with the Justice Department. An appeals court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday.
