DOJ gives California 48 hours to review alleged noncitizen voters
In short
The Justice Department threatened legal action unless California officials review a federal list of suspected noncitizens who may have received mail ballots. Letters demand a citizenship review within 48 hours and ask officials to set aside ballots whose recipients' citizenship cannot be verified.
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The U.S. Justice Department has threatened California with legal action unless state and local officials review a list of people the federal government believes are likely noncitizens who received mail ballots. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter sent letters to Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan, according to NBC News and the New York Post. CBS News dated the letter it reviewed to October 13. [ 2 , 3 , 7 ]
The federal government provided a password-protected thumb drive containing the names and demanded a review within 48 hours, the outlets reported. Axios said officials were asked to investigate citizenship status by noon October 15. The letter did not specify how many people were listed, according to Axios. The letters warned that the government would seek emergency court relief if officials could not implement the requested process. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 8 ]
For people whose citizenship could not be independently confirmed, McCotter asked officials to segregate, rather than cancel, their mail ballots until their status could be determined. CBS News reported that officials were also asked to withhold ballots from listed people who had not yet received one. Axios reported a request to suspend signature verification or counting for any questioned ballots already returned. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
All registered voters in California receive mail ballots, which began going out on October 5, NBC News reported. The Associated Press report carried by The Boston Globe identified the election date as November 3. Axios warned that the demands could delay ballots from eligible Californians mistakenly flagged as noncitizens. CBS News said a Los Angeles County registrar spokesperson confirmed receiving the letter; NBC News reported that Weber and Logan had not immediately responded to requests for comment. [ 2 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Why it matters
California's mail ballots began going out on October 5, NBC News reported. Axios warned that eligible voters mistakenly flagged as noncitizens could have their ballots delayed.
Key facts
- Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter sent letters to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan. [ 3 , 7 ]
- Federal officials supplied a password-protected thumb drive listing people they believe are likely noncitizens who received mail ballots. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- Officials were asked to segregate, rather than cancel, ballots pending citizenship checks. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- Axios reported a deadline of noon October 15. [ 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Justice Department threatened legal action over alleged noncitizens on California's voter rolls. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- The letters gave officials 48 hours to review the list. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
- Officials were asked to set aside ballots where citizenship could not be independently verified. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- How many people are on the list, and whether those listed are noncitizens. Axios reported that the letter gave no list size; the reporting describes suspected noncitizens, not verified citizenship findings.