Story perspectives

DOJ Sues California to Block Mail Ballots From 20,000 Alleged Noncitizens

By Drooid · Oct 15, 2026, 10:11 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Department of Justice sued California to block counting mail ballots from over 20,000 alleged noncitizens.
The DOJ gave California a 48-hour deadline to review a password-protected thumb-drive list.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber said the DOJ offered no evidence while the list’s methodology is unknown.
Governor Gavin Newsom called the lawsuit a desperate attempt to suppress California voters.

History

Historical Context

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, outlawing literacy tests and empowering the Department of Justice to enforce federal election standards. The Act initially covered 13 Southern states, allocating $1.5 billion in federal funds that boosted voter registration by 2.5 million African-American citizens by 1970. Today, the Justice Department’s lawsuit against California mirrors that legacy, demanding proof that alleged non-citizen ballots do not violate the same federal protections championed in 1965. If courts uphold the challenge, the precedent could reshape nationwide ballot-verification practices, echoing the VRA’s enduring influence on election integrity.

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Story summary

The U.S. Department of Justice sued California to block counting mail ballots from over 20,000 alleged noncitizens.
The DOJ gave California a 48-hour deadline to review a password-protected thumb-drive list.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber said the DOJ offered no evidence while the list’s methodology is unknown.
Governor Gavin Newsom called the lawsuit a desperate attempt to suppress California voters.

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