DOJ Seeks California Ballot Intervention

Summary

Updated Oct 23, 5:00am ET

The Justice Department asked the Ninth Circuit to intervene in its bid to stop California from counting more than 20,000 mail ballots cast by people it says are likely noncitizens. The filing came after a district judge had not ruled by DOJ’s deadline, while another federal judge restricted DHS election field operations in nine states until polls close on Election Day. Noncitizens cannot vote in federal elections, and such voting is rare, but the administration has made investigations a midterm focus. DOJ said segregating ballots would prevent vote dilution; California officials said the list was unsupported and could not justify withholding ballots. A district hearing is set for Tuesday, while DOJ seeks faster action.

Left and right

From the left

Left-leaning outlets framed the moves as an escalating federal push checked by courts, stressing intimidation risks and weak evidence. The New York Times emphasized the administration’s broader scrutiny of the midterms as unusually aggressive. The Boston Globe lingered on warnings that voter-assistance groups were being intimidated and that the threat was overstated despite rare cases.

From the right

Right-leaning outlets framed federal action as urgent ballot protection, while giving weight to California’s claim that suspicion alone was not enough. The New York Post emphasized the administration’s race to keep disputed ballots from being counted before eligibility checks. The Epoch Times highlighted Los Angeles County’s refusal to act on unverified allegations. The American Spectator cast judicial limits as dismissing election-integrity concerns.

DOJ Seeks California Ballot Intervention

Summary

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