Judge Denies DOJ Request to Halt Counting of California Ballots
Summary
A federal judge denied the Department of Justice’s request to make California and Los Angeles County officials set aside about 20,000 ballots that the government alleged were cast by noncitizens. Judge David O. Carter said the government had not shown a strong legal basis for the request and warned that changing election procedures during voting could disrupt the process and risk excluding eligible voters.Key Facts
- The DOJ sought a temporary restraining order requiring officials to segregate the ballots while litigation continued.
- Carter found that the government had not shown that it was likely to win its claims.
- The judge said the government’s evidence identifying voters as noncitizens was not reliable enough to justify setting aside ballots.
- Carter said federal law did not clearly require California officials to change their ballot-counting procedures.
- The ruling cited the Purcell principle, which generally cautions courts against changing election rules close to an election.
- Carter warned that the requested action could confuse election officials and risk discounting votes cast by U.S. citizens.
- The article says federal law bars noncitizens from voting in federal elections.
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