20,000 Ballots Face 48-Hour Federal Check Before Midterms

Federal prosecutors have ordered California election officials to verify approximately 20,000 ballots within 48 hours, a deadline that lands less than two weeks before the midterm elections. The Department of Justice claims the list includes votes cast by suspected noncitizens, a group that California officials say is largely composed of eligible U.S. citizens.

Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized the move on Saturday, telling MS Now that the department is "politicizing and weaponizing the law to attack its enemies." He accused the Justice Department of acting on direct orders from President Donald Trump to intervene in the state's election process.

State election personnel warn that the rapid timeline could force counties to strip eligible citizens of their right to vote. Officials in Los Angeles noted this week that a "high percentage" of the individuals named on the federal list were born in the United States. The department argues that quick verification is necessary to secure the vote and ensure citizenship status is confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security.

Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the process on social media, calling it an "Absolute clown show!" He stated that the department was desperate to prove "widespread voter fraud" and had sent counties lists containing people who never voted and voters from the wrong county. Rep. Pete Aguilar, representing southwest San Bernardino County, added that "Voter intimidation has no place in our democracy."

Bonta has raised doubts about the federal evidence, noting that officials received only names without any explanation of why those individuals were considered ineligible. "If they have such information, we would be happy to review it, but they've provided none," he said during a recent press conference.

The dispute follows recent actions by the Justice Department, which charged 28 lawful permanent residents with fraudulently registering to vote. Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney, stated that the arrests prove "California is mailing ballots to noncitizens, and they are refusing to comply with federal law." The defendants hold legal status in the U.S. but are not citizens.

Some state officials took no action on the letters sent Friday, citing the rapid approach of the election date. That inaction triggered a legal battle with the federal government, and an appeals court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday.