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Washington state secretary of state fires back at DOJ over noncitizen voter claim: ‘Profoundly disappointing’
Developed over time first seen 2 weeks ago
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has rejected a US Justice Department request to set aside ballots from more than 400 people federal prosecutors allege are noncitizens. Prosecutors said the people appeared to be illegally registered and asked the state to keep any ballots they cast separate until their citizenship could be checked. Hobbs called the timing of the request “profoundly disappointing”: Washington had already mailed ballots to active registered voters, and election day was barely a week away.
Hobbs said the federal list was unreliable. According to his preliminary review, it included US citizens as well as people who were not currently registered or whose registrations were inactive. He said election officials could not lawfully decline to process a registered voter’s ballot without individual proof of ineligibility, and invited prosecutors to provide such evidence. The dispute centres on how to investigate possible noncitizen voting while protecting eligible voters’ ballots during an election already under way.
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In short
- Federal prosecutors asked Washington to set aside ballots linked to more than 400 alleged noncitizens.
- Hobbs said an initial review found citizens and people without active registrations on the list.
- He asked for individual proof before officials take action against any voter’s ballot.
How this story developed
- 2 weeks ago Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has rejected a US Justice Department request to set aside ballots from more than 400 people federal prosecutors allege are noncitizens.
- The Hill Washington state secretary of state fires back at DOJ over noncitizen voter claim: ‘Profoundly disappointing’
- Washington Secretary of State Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs response to DOJ letter about voter rolls
- US Department of Justice Federal data shows hundreds of non-citizens registered to vote in Washington
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Justice Department’s request can be defended as a precaution to ensure that only eligible citizens vote in federal elections. If prosecutors have credible grounds to suspect unlawful registrations, temporarily setting aside the affected ballots while checking each person’s status could protect election integrity without discarding votes before the facts are established.
The case against
Hobbs’s position can be defended on the grounds that eligible voters should not have their ballots delayed or jeopardised by an unverified list, especially once voting is under way. His preliminary review found errors, and requiring individual evidence before treating a registered voter as ineligible protects lawful voting rights and gives officials a sound basis for any action.
Explained simply
Washington runs its own elections, with the secretary of state overseeing statewide rules and local officials handling ballots. US citizens aged 18 or over who meet other legal requirements can vote in federal elections; noncitizens cannot.
The Justice Department is the federal agency responsible for enforcing federal law, including laws on voting. When questions arise about voter eligibility, state and federal officials may have to establish who is affected and what evidence supports action.
The dispute raises a question about how to check suspected ineligible registrations while ensuring eligible voters can cast their ballots. It matters because election officials must apply the rules consistently and protect the rights of people who are entitled to vote.
Coverage · 3 sources
- The HillCentreWashington state secretary of state fires back at DOJ over noncitizen voter claim: ‘Profoundly disappointing’
- Washington Secretary of StateWashington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs response to DOJ letter about voter rolls
- US Department of JusticeFederal data shows hundreds of non-citizens registered to vote in Washington
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