US DOJ demands California counties sequester alleged non‑citizen ballots

County election officials in California have received letters from the U.S. Department of Justice demanding that they set aside ballots alleged to have been cast by non‑citizens.

The letters, delivered on Friday, ask registrars to provide personal details, including Social Security numbers, for roughly 20,000 voters. The DOJ warned that officials who knowingly count a non‑citizen vote could face legal action.

John Tuteur, registrar of voters for Napa County, said his office has already begun counting mail‑in ballots from the state’s 23 million registered voters and will continue to do so. “We’re not changing anything we’re doing. We’re proceeding with the election,” he told the Associated Press.

California’s attorney general has said the DOJ letters contain errors; for example, Mendocino County received a list of people who are not residents of that county. In Amador County, Clerk‑Recorder Kim Grady’s office was sent a list of four alleged illegal registrants and is awaiting further state guidance.

The federal demand follows a lawsuit filed on 15 October seeking a court order to stop California from counting mail‑in ballots from individuals the DOJ identifies as likely non‑citizens. A 9th Circuit appeals panel will hear arguments on Sunday.

Earlier this week, federal authorities charged 28 people from the 20,000‑person list with illegal registration, voting and false naturalisation statements, offences that can carry prison terms.

Source: ABC News. Photo: Strange Happenings / Pexels.