Supreme Court Rejects Trump Administration Appeal In California Ballot Case
5 hours ago
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an emergency appeal from the Trump administration seeking to prevent California from counting thousands of mail-in ballots tied to voters federal officials suspect may not be U.S. citizens.
The decision, issued Monday evening just hours before Election Day, allows California election officials to continue processing ballots under the state's existing election procedures.
The Justice Department had asked the high court to intervene in a dispute involving more than 20,000 people identified by federal officials as potentially ineligible to vote because of questions surrounding their citizenship status.
The administration wanted California to separate ballots associated with those voters until their eligibility could be verified.
Federal officials argued that counting the disputed ballots alongside other votes could make it impossible to identify and remove any ballots later determined to have been cast illegally.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer described the request as a limited measure intended to protect the integrity of the election while the legal dispute continued.
California officials opposed the request, arguing that the federal government's list contained significant inaccuracies and could include eligible American citizens.
State officials warned that separating the ballots so close to Election Day could prevent lawful voters from having their votes counted.
The Supreme Court rejected the administration's request without providing an explanation, a common practice in emergency appeals. No justices publicly dissented.
The decision followed earlier rulings against the administration in federal district court and the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
A federal judge previously expressed concerns that the Justice Department's request could interfere with California's authority to administer elections and potentially disenfranchise eligible voters.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, while the Trump administration maintained that additional citizenship verification was necessary to prevent unlawful voting.
Federal law prohibits non-U.S. citizens from voting in federal elections. However, California officials have disputed the reliability of the administration's evidence and questioned whether the individuals identified had actually cast ballots.
The ruling comes as voters across the country head to the polls Tuesday for the 2026 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term.
While the Supreme Court's decision allows California to continue counting ballots, the broader legal dispute over voter eligibility and federal oversight of state elections remains unresolved.
The decision, issued Monday evening just hours before Election Day, allows California election officials to continue processing ballots under the state's existing election procedures.
The Justice Department had asked the high court to intervene in a dispute involving more than 20,000 people identified by federal officials as potentially ineligible to vote because of questions surrounding their citizenship status.
The administration wanted California to separate ballots associated with those voters until their eligibility could be verified.
Federal officials argued that counting the disputed ballots alongside other votes could make it impossible to identify and remove any ballots later determined to have been cast illegally.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer described the request as a limited measure intended to protect the integrity of the election while the legal dispute continued.
California officials opposed the request, arguing that the federal government's list contained significant inaccuracies and could include eligible American citizens.
State officials warned that separating the ballots so close to Election Day could prevent lawful voters from having their votes counted.
The Supreme Court rejected the administration's request without providing an explanation, a common practice in emergency appeals. No justices publicly dissented.
The decision followed earlier rulings against the administration in federal district court and the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
A federal judge previously expressed concerns that the Justice Department's request could interfere with California's authority to administer elections and potentially disenfranchise eligible voters.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, while the Trump administration maintained that additional citizenship verification was necessary to prevent unlawful voting.
Federal law prohibits non-U.S. citizens from voting in federal elections. However, California officials have disputed the reliability of the administration's evidence and questioned whether the individuals identified had actually cast ballots.
The ruling comes as voters across the country head to the polls Tuesday for the 2026 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term.
While the Supreme Court's decision allows California to continue counting ballots, the broader legal dispute over voter eligibility and federal oversight of state elections remains unresolved.