DOJ-California dispute over noncitizen ballots
The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered some California counties to set aside mail-in ballots from voters suspected of being noncitizens, prompting a legal battle between the Trump administration and California officials. A federal judge rejected the administration's bid to block the state from counting the ballots, and an appeals court declined to immediately intervene. The dispute is part of a broader administration effort, including subpoenas issued across multiple states, to investigate alleged noncitizen voting ahead of the midterm elections.
Current state
A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration's bid to set aside California mail-in ballots suspected of being cast by noncitizens, ruling no immediate action was necessary; an appeals court had already declined to immediately intervene.
3 sources · 4 reports · Updated 29 Oct 2026
What changed
Federal judge rejects Trump bid to set aside California ballots
A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration's bid to set aside California mail-in ballots suspected of being cast by noncitizens, adding a new court setback after an appeals court had already declined to intervene.
Developments
- Key development
A federal judge rejected the Trump administration's bid to set aside California mail-in ballots suspected of being cast by noncitizens, ruling no immediate action was necessary.
- Key development
A federal appeals court declined to intervene and rejected the DOJ's request for an immediate order demanding that California segregate roughly 20,000 mail-in ballots from voters the administration says are likely noncitizens.
- Key development
The Justice Department sent letters to California county registrars demanding that local officials set aside and verify ballots the department said may belong to noncitizens.
Current story coverage
Earlier coverage
- Appeals court declines to step in on Trump administration's California voting case Appeals court rejects DOJ request for immediate order demanding California segregate 20,000 mail-in ballots from those Trump administration says are likely non-citizens.
- DOJ orders some California counties to set aside ballots from suspected noncitizens The letters are the latest escalation in a legal battle between California and President Donald Trump's Department of Justice, which has recently focused on the state in its efforts to root out noncitizen voting ahead of the midterm elections.