The Trump administration has warned California election officials that they could face criminal prosecution if they count mail-in ballots from more than 20,000 voters whose citizenship status the federal government is questioning.
The warning came on October 16, less than three weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, as hundreds of thousands of California voters had already returned their ballots.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter warned Los Angeles County and state election officials that knowingly counting ballots cast by noncitizens could constitute a federal crime.
The Justice Department claims that more than 20,000 individuals who may not be U.S. citizens received ballots. However, the administration has not publicly established that these individuals are ineligible voters or that they have cast illegal votes.
California Challenges Federal Claims
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County election officials have questioned the reliability of the federal government’s information.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the disputed ballots from being counted without verification of voter eligibility.
President Donald Trump amplified the federal warning on social media, raising concerns about potential criminal penalties for election officials.
Governor Newsom Responds
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office strongly condemned the administration’s actions, accusing the president of threatening local election officials for refusing to violate federal law.
The governor’s office described the situation as an unprecedented attack on American democracy.
Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections. However, election officials must also protect eligible voters from having their ballots improperly rejected.
The dispute raises significant legal questions about federal authority over elections, voter eligibility verification, and the protection of voting rights just weeks before Election Day.
For now, the allegations
Sources: Reuters | Associated Press | Governor Newsom Press Office
By NJ RADAR Team