Justice Department orders California counties to protect ballots from possible noncitizens
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The U.S. Justice Department sent letters to 57 California counties demanding they set aside about 20,000 ballots tied to voters it believes may not be citizens, warning officials that processing such ballots could lead to criminal prosecution.
The Justice Department mailed letters to election offices in 57 of California's 58 counties, giving officials 48 hours to set aside ballots from voters the department believes are likely noncitizens. The letters request that counties work with federal officials to verify citizenship for the identified voters before counting their mail-in ballots, reflecting a serious effort to safeguard election integrity.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said any election official who knowingly processes a noncitizen ballot "is opening themselves to legal jeopardy" and warned that such actions constitute a federal crime. Essayli added that the department had provided counties with a list of registered voters it believes are noncitizens and that authorities will hold officials accountable, underscoring the seriousness of the matter.
County clerks in Santa Cruz and Contra Costa confirmed receipt of the letters and said they are reviewing the demands with legal counsel. Santa Cruz County Clerk Tricia Webber described the request as "not normal protocol" and noted that two Justice Department representatives delivered the notice. Contra Costa County registrar Kristin Connelly called the threat "intimidating" and said her office follows all state and federal election laws.
U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian, the top federal prosecutor for the Northern District of California, sent a separate letter to Contra Costa officials demanding detailed personal information for 407 individuals on the list, including Social Security numbers and copies of identification documents, to determine citizenship status.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta declined to comment, and the state's secretary of state and Los Angeles County registrar have previously been sued by the Justice Department over similar requests. A federal judge previously rejected a Justice Department lawsuit seeking voter records, describing the demands as a threat to democracy.
Senator Alex Padilla said the actions represent an attempt by the Trump administration to interfere in California elections and affirmed the Senate's support for state election officials.