California Officials Question Federal Voter List as Unreliable
The Justice Department is asking California to set aside ballots linked to about 20,000 people it describes as likely noncitizens. California and Los Angeles County officials told a court that an early review found the federal list unreliable, with some records indicating U.S. birth. The state argued that carrying out the request so close to the election would be impractical and could violate election laws.
California and Los Angeles County officials responded in Tuesday court filings to a federal suit seeking pre-count review of about 20,000 voters. Los Angeles County said just 7,035 listed addresses fell within its jurisdiction, with duplicates among them. A 200-record sample found 112 registrations canceled or inactive and roughly 70% with no voting history; among records with a reported birthplace, 38.9% showed U.S. birth.
The state’s online voter registration form requests birthplace, though applicants need not provide it. A senior Justice Department official conceded Monday that some listed individuals might prove to be citizens. County staff initially hesitated to open a flash drive from an unverified source, then received the same data by email.
The dispute may affect thousands of flagged voters, who could face confusion or added hurdles if ballots are set aside, and election offices that may need to divert staff to verification close to voting. It could also shape public confidence in election administration, as conflicting federal and local data invite disputes over accuracy and fairness. The outcome may influence how similar federal requests are handled elsewhere.