US sues California over mail ballots tied to suspected noncitizens
What's next: The case seeks an emergency order to hold back questioned ballots before the Nov. 3 federal election.
The Justice Department sued California on Thursday, escalating a fight over whether mail ballots sent to people the federal government suspects are noncitizens can be counted in the Nov. 3 federal election. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, asks a judge to require state and local officials to segregate ballots from voters flagged by federal authorities and verify citizenship before tabulation. The suit followed a 48-hour demand from acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter to Secretary of State Shirley Weber after federal officials gave Los Angeles County a list of questioned names. Weber's office rejected the demand, saying earlier claims about noncitizens on California voter rolls were unsubstantiated and warning that flawed data could wrongly affect eligible U.S. citizens.