Trump Administration Sues California Over Noncitizen Mail-In Ballots

The Donald Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against California election officials to prevent the counting of mail-in ballots from individuals the federal government identifies as likely noncitizens. The United States Department of Justice warned the Los Angeles County Counsel’s office that local officials who process these ballots may face investigation and prosecution. Trump stated on social media that such officials "will all go to jail for a long period of time."

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber countered that the federal government has provided no evidence for its allegations and warned that these measures could threaten voting rights. In response to the federal pressure, Senators Alex Padilla, Dick Durbin, and Sheldon Whitehouse sent a letter to the Justice Department demanding a reaffirmation that the agency will not interfere in the election or seize ballots before certification.

These legal disputes occur as the country prepares for the November 3 midterm elections. Trump has encouraged citizens to vote while simultaneously claiming that "There is a lot of cheating in vote by mail, a lot of cheating, all over." Washington state officials defended the security of the process, noting that voter fraud is rare.

Early voting has surged, with 6 million voters across 39 states already casting ballots. California reports the highest volume with over 757,000 votes. Mobilization efforts include Republican rallies in Kentucky and hundreds of nonpartisan No Kings network rallies nationwide.