DOJ misses judge’s deadline for details on California voter removals
The Justice Department missed a federal judge’s deadline to provide details about tens of thousands of California voters it sought to remove from the rolls, calling the request a “fishing expedition”. The dispute is part of a wider Trump administration campaign over voter information and election procedures, which Democrats say threatens states’ authority to run elections ahead of Tuesday’s midterms.
Judge James Boasberg is due to rule on Monday on the administration’s election-related demands. The DOJ has issued more than 100 subpoenas seeking voter information from at least 13 states; it also sued California over more than 20,000 people it labelled “likely noncitizens” and Washington over more than 400 voters. The article says audits and other reports have found noncitizen voting to be rare, while the administration says its actions protect elections.
In short
- DOJ missed a court deadline to disclose its California voter list.
- The dispute is part of a wider election information campaign.
- A judge is expected to rule before Tuesday’s midterms.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The administration can argue that accurate voter rolls and confidence in elections are essential, and that investigating possible ineligible registrations is a legitimate federal interest. Seeking records across states may help determine whether existing safeguards are working and whether concerns warrant action.
The case against
California and other states can argue that mass requests for voter data, especially when the alleged problem is rare, risk exposing sensitive information and pressuring states to change election procedures. They may also contend that election administration is primarily a state responsibility and that broad demands without specific evidence exceed the federal government’s proper role.
Explained simply
In the United States, elections are run by state and local officials, who maintain voter registration lists. Federal law sets some rules for those lists, including who may register: non-US citizens cannot vote in federal elections.
The Justice Department is the federal agency responsible for enforcing national laws. It has sought voter records from several states and challenged California’s handling of people it considers likely to be noncitizens. California officials have disputed the request, and the states say they have authority over how elections are administered.
The dispute matters because it concerns how far the federal government can go in seeking state election information and influencing voter-roll decisions. Reports have found noncitizen voting to be rare, while the administration says its actions are intended to protect elections.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Trump DOJ thumbs its nose as nemesis judge in noncitizen voting war days before midterms”.