Federal Judge Blocks Administration Demands on Disputed Ballots Ahead of Midterms

A federal judge in California has issued an order requiring the federal government to cease threatening local and state election officials with criminal charges concerning the processing of election ballots. The ruling directs the Department of Justice to stop demanding that officials set aside specific ballots that the administration contends may originate from non-citizens.

Court documents indicate that the Department of Justice sent letters earlier in the month to the California secretary of state and the Los Angeles County Registrar, demanding the segregation of ballots belonging to 20,000 registered voters that the administration suggested were likely non-citizens. Subsequently, armed officials from the Department of Homeland Security delivered letters to county employees across the state, warning of potential criminal charges if the ballots were not sequestered.

County officials and employees stated they could not comply with the demands because state and federal laws mandate specific election procedures. Civil rights organizations and unions representing election workers subsequently filed a legal complaint, alleging that the Department of Justice was interfering with their responsibilities to administer the election.

United States District Judge Trina Thompson ruled that the administration's actions would cause disruption in the electoral process. In her written decision, Judge Thompson noted that while the defendants asserted their actions aimed to prevent unlawful voting by non-citizens, the measures were likely to interfere with election administration and disenfranchise lawful voters. Judge Thompson's order also referenced a similar letter sent to Washington state regarding alleged non-citizen voters.

The legal actions coincide with a broader campaign by the administration addressing alleged voter fraud, which officials assert is widespread. Conversely, research indicates that voter fraud in the United States is extremely rare. Ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, the administration has raised questions regarding voting security and postal voting integrity, and offered a reward for reports of voter fraud leading to a conviction.

Donald Trump criticized the court's decision in a social media post on Saturday, questioning why efforts to address election fraud would be rejected. The midterm elections determine control of the United States Congress for the remainder of the presidential term.