Full Breakdown
DOJ Gives California 48-Hour Deadline to Review Suspected Noncitizen Ballots
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Action: 48-Hour Review Order
The Justice Department, acting through Acting Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter, sent letters on Tuesday to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan. The letters demand that the state review a password-protected thumb drive containing names of individuals the federal government believes received mail-in ballots despite likely being noncitizens. Officials were instructed to hold the identified ballots and to complete the review within 48 hours, or the DOJ will seek emergency court relief.
Background & Context
The request follows the Trump administration’s long-standing claim that noncitizen voting is widespread, a claim that studies have repeatedly shown to be rare. A Reuters investigation cited software glitches and clerical errors that may have placed more than 30,000 noncitizens on voter rolls nationwide since 2000, though the number who actually voted remains unclear.
Official Statements & Responses
The department’s spokesperson confirmed the letters and the urgency of the deadline. California officials, including the Secretary of State’s office and the Governor’s office, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Data & Statistics
- Reuters investigation: over 30,000 noncitizens potentially on voter rolls nationwide since 2000.
- Federal prosecutors announced 16 new criminal cases involving alleged noncitizen voting or fraudulent registrations on the Monday preceding the letters.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you cannot implement this process by then, given the ongoing federal election, the United States will have no choice but to seek emergency relief,” — General R. Trent McCotter
The ultimatum represents a direct clash between federal election-integrity enforcement and state election administration, occurring just weeks before the upcoming midterm elections.
