DOJ Sues to Block 20K California Mail Ballots
Is the last-minute noncitizen voter list voter intimidation or the bare minimum to ensure an honest election?
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Above: An election worker helps a voter at a polling location in San Francisco, California, on Oct. 21. Image credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Facts
- DOJ lawyers argued in federal court Sunday to stop California from counting more than 20,000 mail ballots tied to individuals federal officials describe as likely noncitizens. California's attorney general called the effort "improper."
- Early in-person voting began Saturday at 123 vote centers in Los Angeles County. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said it is "very highly likely" noncitizens have already voted, though prosecution levels remain low.
- Letters dated Friday gave California county election officials 48 hours to help verify the citizenship of suspected noncitizen voters and set aside their mail ballots. Gov. Gavin Newsom dubbed this an attempt to "suppress" voters.
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The Spin
Democratic narrative
Scrambling to find fraud that barely exists is a political stunt. A sloppy list was dumped on county officials days before an election, in a move of intimidation aimed at scaring lawful voters away from the ballot box. Real election security never starts with guesswork that sweeps up U.S.-born citizens.
Republican narrative
Confirming that only citizens can cast ballots is the bare minimum any honest election system owes the public. Stonewalling a simple citizenship check and racing to count everything before a court can weigh in raises the obvious question of what's being hidden. Every illegal vote cancels out a lawful one, and razor-thin margins make electoral integrity key to protecting the democratic process.
