DOJ asks Supreme Court to weigh in on California ballot demands : NPR

Justice Department Seeks Supreme Court Intervention in California Voter Roll Dispute

The Department of Justice is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court as tensions rise with California over its voter rolls, just a day ahead of Election Day on November 3. This action follows the rejection of its request by both a federal district judge and a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel.

The Justice Department aims to halt the processing of thousands of ballots, claiming that 20,000 likely noncitizens are listed on California’s voter rolls. However, courts have ruled in favor of California and Los Angeles County, arguing that the federal government’s list is unreliable and adjusting the current voting process is impractical.

Judges from the 9th Circuit, including Mark Bennett and Gabriel Sanchez, noted that making last-minute changes could lead to voter disenfranchisement and disrupt the electoral process. The decision upheld the principle that election rules should not be altered just before an election and emphasized state authority in managing elections. The panel’s third judge, Patrick Bumatay, dissented.

The Justice Department’s recent moves include cautioning local officials about potential criminal charges and issuing grand jury subpoenas to employees in Los Angeles County’s election office. While the DOJ contends that noncitizens should be scrutinized, many listed individuals reportedly do not have active registrations and were not sent ballots, suggesting the number of disputed ballots may be lower than 20,000.

The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to intervene remains uncertain, as the DOJ escalates its efforts against California election authorities.