Federal judge denies Trump administration's request to segregate 20,000 ballots in California
A federal judge in California denied a Trump administration request to segregate 20,000 ballots from voters suspected of being non-citizens. The judge ruled that the move would disrupt the ongoing election and violate state sovereignty.
Why it matters
This ruling highlights the ongoing legal tension between federal oversight and state-run election procedures during a high-stakes election cycle.
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A federal judge in California has rejected the Justice Department's push for an emergency order to have California segregate roughly 20,000 ballots belonging to individuals the Trump administration has claimed are "likely" non-citizens.
The judge warns it would "wreak havoc" on midterm elections. The ruling comes as more than 3.7 million people have already voted in the state.
"Never before in American history has the federal government, on the eve of an election, sought to coerce a state and local government to abandon their own Constitutional elections procedures and bend to the will of the Executive Branch," Judge David Carter wrote in his Wednesday order. "In bringing this lawsuit, the Executive would have this Court believe that it reigns as a sole sovereign. But California and its people are sovereign, too."
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
U.S. judge rejects Trump administration’s interference in California midterm vote
Judge denies the Justice Department's bid to stop processing California ballots
‘Wreak havoc’: US judge blocks Trump bid to set aside 20,000 California ballots
Federal judge warns Trump administration’s bid to set aside 20,000 California mail ballots would ‘wreak havoc’
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in