California election workers face 48-hour deadline to verify 20,000 ballots

Federal prosecutors have asked California election officials to verify the citizenship status of approximately 20,000 voters within 48 hours, a demand that landed less than two weeks before the midterm elections. Attorney General Rob Bonta called the move an improper use of federal power, saying the Department of Justice was acting at the direction of President Donald Trump.

The dispute centers on a list of names provided to counties by the Justice Department. Bonta stated that officials received only names without any explanation of why those individuals were deemed ineligible. "If they have such information, we would be happy to review it, but they've provided none," Bonta said. He described the situation as the department "politicizing and weaponizing the law to attack its enemies."

State election personnel warn that the short timeline forces them to process data before they can fully review it. Officials in Los Angeles noted that a "high percentage" of the people on the list were born in the United States. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the federal effort on social media, pointing out that the lists included individuals who never voted and voters from the wrong county. He called the process an "Absolute clown show!"

The Justice Department framed its request as a measure to secure the election. A department statement said it was asking county officials to provide information so the Department of Homeland Security could quickly verify citizenship. "With their help, we can ensure the most secure election in California history," the statement read. This push follows recent federal prosecutions of noncitizens, including 28 foreign nationals charged with fraudulent registration.

Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney, said the arrests demonstrated that noncitizens were voting in California. He noted that the defendants are lawful permanent residents who hold legal status but are not citizens. "California is mailing ballots to noncitizens, and they are refusing to comply with federal law," Essayli said. Congressman Pete Aguilar, representing south-west San Bernardino county, wrote that voter intimidation has no place in the democracy.

Voting by noncitizens is rare, but the Justice Department has increased prosecutions as the midterms approach. Some state officials took no action on the letters sent Friday, citing the proximity of the election. That inaction triggered a legal battle that will now be heard by an appeals court.