DOJ Sues California Over Alleged Noncitizen Voting in Midterms 2026

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) sued California on Thursday over alleged noncitizen voting, seeking a court order to prevent the state from tabulating certain ballots cast in the midterm elections. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in the central district of California, marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration's efforts to scrutinize election results.

Background of the DOJ Lawsuit Against California

The lawsuit came two days after the DOJ made a demand to California election officials. On Tuesday, the department sent election officials in Los Angeles County a thumb drive with a handwritten password purporting to contain the names of noncitizens registered to vote. The DOJ asked officials to confirm the citizenship of anyone on the list and set aside ballots from those whose status could not be confirmed. It gave the state 48 hours – an extremely narrow window – to take action.

In its lawsuit, the DOJ said it had provided the state with more than 20,000 names of likely noncitizens. However, it did not provide details on how it came up with the names on the list. The Los Angeles County clerk and recorder, Dean Logan, said his office would not review the list, in part because it didn’t consider the USB drive secure.

California's Response to the Allegations

In a statement on Wednesday, the California Secretary of State, Shirley Weber, a Democrat, said the DOJ had not provided the list of voters to her office. “The [DOJ’s] relentless efforts to unlawfully gain access to states’ protected voter data and purge voter rolls serve only to cause chaos and fuel public distrust in our elections,” Weber said.

California officials have pushed back against the DOJ's demands, arguing that the list is unreliable and that the deadline was unreasonable. The state has until the end of the week to respond to the lawsuit.

Potential Impact on Election Integrity

The lawsuit raises questions about the integrity of the midterm elections and the role of federal authorities in overseeing state election processes. If successful, the lawsuit could set a precedent for federal intervention in state elections based on unverified data.

Critics argue that the DOJ's actions are politically motivated and could disenfranchise eligible voters. Supporters contend that the lawsuit is necessary to ensure that only citizens vote in federal elections.

Comparison of DOJ and California Positions

Key Takeaways

• The DOJ sued California to prevent tabulation of certain ballots in the midterm elections.
• The lawsuit follows a demand for California to verify citizenship status of over 20,000 individuals within 48 hours.
• California officials refused to review the list, citing security concerns and lack of details.
• The case could have significant implications for federal-state relations in election oversight.
• The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over voter data and election integrity.

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