DOJ Orders California to Verify 20,000 Ballots in 48 Hours

Federal prosecutors have issued a strict 48-hour deadline for California election officials to verify the citizenship status of roughly 20,000 ballots, a move that has triggered a sharp legal and political dispute days before the midterm elections. The Justice Department requested that county officials provide data to the Department of Homeland Security to confirm eligibility, framing the rapid timeline as essential for securing the vote.

Attorney General Rob Bonta publicly rejected the order on Saturday. He accused the administration of "politicizing and weaponizing the law" to attack political opponents. Bonta told MS Now that the department was acting at the direction of President Donald Trump. He argued the process was improper because it targeted voters without providing sufficient evidence of ineligibility.

The dispute centers on the timing and scope of the federal demand. California election personnel warned that the short window could lead to eligible citizens losing their right to vote. Los Angeles officials reported that a high percentage of the individuals named on the federal list were born in the United States. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the effort on social media, calling it an "Absolute clown show!" He noted that counties received lists containing people who never voted and voters from the wrong county.

The Justice Department defended its approach in a statement. It stated, "We are asking each county election official to commit to working with us by providing the necessary information for DHS to quickly verify citizenship status." The department claimed the cooperation would ensure the most secure election in California history. This action aligns with a broader Republican effort to tighten scrutiny on alleged voter fraud involving noncitizens.

Bonta questioned the underlying evidence during a recent press conference. He said state officials received only names without explanation for why those individuals were deemed ineligible. "If they have such information, we would be happy to review it, but they've provided none," Bonta said. The state has not yet acted on the letters sent on Friday, citing the proximity of the election.

The legal fight is now moving to the courts. An appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments on the matter on Tuesday. Separately, the Justice Department recently charged 28 foreign nationals with fraudulently registering to vote. Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney, stated that the arrests proved California was mailing ballots to noncitizens. The defendants are lawful permanent residents with legal status but without voting rights.

The immediate conflict remains the 48-hour verification window. While the federal government seeks rapid data to confirm citizenship, state officials argue the process is too rushed and lacks specific details. The outcome of the Tuesday hearing will determine whether counties must comply with the federal deadline or can continue to delay the review until after the election.