Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Set Aside California Ballots

The Trump administration filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court of the United States on Monday, requesting that California set aside 20,000 mail-in ballots it claims were issued to noncitizens. This legal action follows a federal appeals court's rejection of the administration's request to impound the ballots for scrutiny. The United States Department of Justice argues that federal law prohibits noncitizen voting, while California officials maintain the administration's list of suspected noncitizens is riddled with errors, including U.S.-born citizens.

This application is the latest escalation in a monthslong campaign to identify and charge noncitizens for voting violations. The federal government has filed more than 220 charges across 28 states, involving high-profile raids and felony charges for false statements on naturalization applications. Defendants from countries including India, Belize, and Pakistan have cited language barriers and registration confusion, while voting rights experts describe the arrests as performative.

A trial judge previously ruled against the federal government, stating the request could wreak havoc on state election administration. The legal battle reaches the high court just one day before Election Day, as the administration continues to question the validity of the midterm elections.