California Sues Federal Government Over 48-Hour Ballot Verification Demand
State officials argue the rushed deadline threatens to invalidate votes from eligible citizens just days before the midterm elections.
By Marco Graham ·
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit on Saturday to challenge a federal order requiring counties to verify the citizenship of approximately 20,000 voters within 48 hours. Bonta argued that the Department of Justice is acting under the direct influence of President Donald Trump to target political opponents. He described the move as "politicizing and weaponizing the law to attack its enemies," a characterization he shared with MS Now.
The conflict began when federal prosecutors issued the demand less than two weeks before the midterm elections. The Justice Department stated it was seeking cooperation from county election officials to help the Department of Homeland Security quickly verify citizenship status. Officials claimed this process would ensure the most secure election in California history. The request comes as part of a national Republican effort to increase prosecutions of noncitizens accused of voting illegally.
State election personnel have warned that the compressed timeline could force officials to strip eligible citizens of their voting rights. Los Angeles officials noted that a high percentage of the individuals 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 stated that the department was desperate to prove widespread voter fraud and had sent lists including people who never voted and voters from the wrong county. Congressman Pete Aguilar, representing south-west San Bernardino county, said voter intimidation has no place in the democracy.
Bonta has questioned the basis for the federal list, noting that state officials received only names without an explanation for why those specific people were deemed ineligible. He stated that the state was ready to review the information if provided, but the federal government had offered none. The Justice Department recently charged 28 foreign nationals with fraudulently registering to vote. Bill Essayli, the first assistant US attorney, said the arrests proved California was mailing ballots to noncitizens who were refusing to comply with federal law. The defendants are lawful permanent residents who hold legal status in the US but are not citizens.
Some state officials took no action on the letters sent Friday, citing the proximity of the election. This inaction triggered the current legal battle. An appeals court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday.
The lawsuit seeks to halt the 48-hour deadline. Bonta’s office contends the federal government is using its enforcement powers to create voter confusion in a key state. The court’s decision could determine whether counties must complete the verification process before election day or if the list remains pending further review.
