Justice Department Seeks Supreme Court’s Intervention on California Mail-In Ballots

The Justice Department has approached the Supreme Court to temporarily halt lower-court decisions that rejected its plea to isolate over 20,000 Californian mail-in ballots. These ballots have allegedly been cast by individuals who are not U.S. citizens according to the DOJ.

The Department argues that a limited injunction would safeguard the ballots for eligibility verification without discarding any votes. There is a contention between California and the federal government regarding the legality of these ballots.

Once illegally cast ballots are counted and commingled with lawful votes, the resulting harm is impossible to remedy, the Justice Department stated in their court submission.

Earlier, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined the DOJ’s request, with Judge Patrick Bumatay dissenting. A federal judge in Los Angeles also rejected the plea. The Justice Department is continuing to seek relief while the case remains under examination.

California maintains that its voting systems are tough against noncitizen participation. The state argues that the federal list might have errors that could prevent legitimate voters from exercising their rights. The lower courts have highlighted California’s control over its election processes and noted that enforcing the DOJ’s request could endanger the election’s integrity.

The case originates from an October 15 lawsuit filed by the Justice Department. The suit accuses California of obstructing enforcement of a federal law that prohibits noncitizen voting in federal elections. The federal administration claims that California violated the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which prioritizes federal law over state regulations.

This legal standoff is part of a larger federal initiative to impact state election management. The administration is seeking access to voter rolls and warning officials about potential legal repercussions for allowing noncitizen voting.

With 52 House seats, California remains the most populous state. The Democratic Party requires a net gain of four seats to secure control of the House.

Report contributions from Fox News’ Shannon Bream, Bill Mears, and Reuters are acknowledged. Eric Mack is noted for his role as a breaking news journalist, focusing on subjects that shape political narratives, elections, and government affairs.