Justice Department sues California over ballots tied to alleged noncitizens
publishers 59articles 70first reported 14 Oct, 13:25 UTCdeveloping since 14 Oct · 19 editions
The Justice Department sued California on Thursday, seeking to stop election officials from counting mail ballots linked to about 20,000 people whom federal authorities identify as likely noncitizens until their citizenship can be verified.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, followed a 48-hour deadline for state and local officials to review names compiled by the Department of Homeland Security. The department accused California of making no serious effort to help identify ineligible voters and asked the court to require disputed ballots to be set aside before the Nov. 3 midterm election.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber rejected the demand, saying the federal government had not explained its methodology or provided her office with information adequate to verify the claims. She said withholding ballots based on an unsupported designation could disenfranchise eligible voters and violate federal and state law.
Los Angeles County officials said they received a password-protected thumb drive containing names but declined to access it because the device did not comply with established privacy and information-security protocols. Noncitizens are prohibited from voting in federal elections.
On Friday, acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter sent another letter warning that officials who knowingly tabulate ballots cast by noncitizens could face criminal investigation or prosecution for aiding and abetting a federal crime. The warning was directed to Los Angeles County’s counsel and copied to Weber and county registrar Dean Logan. California officials maintain that voter removals or ballot restrictions must be based on verifiable information.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 54 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 59
- Source articles
- 70
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 54 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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