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Politics · October 15, 2026

US justice department sues California over alleged noncitizen voting

3 sources →

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against California, seeking a court order to prevent the state from tabulating mail-in ballots from approximately 20,000 individuals the federal government identifies as likely noncitizens. The action follows a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the DOJ, during which Los Angeles County officials were asked to verify names provided on a password-protected thumb drive. Local and state officials have refused to comply, citing security concerns regarding the hardware and alleging the move is a politically motivated attempt to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections. The lawsuit is part of a broader federal effort to screen state voter rolls for noncitizens, a campaign that has faced significant legal setbacks in other states.

Read the original coverage

Reported across the spectrum

  • The Department of Justice sued California in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
  • The DOJ identifies more than 20,000 individuals on California voter rolls as likely noncitizens.
  • The DOJ seeks to enjoin California from tabulating certain vote-by-mail ballots until citizenship is verified.
  • The DOJ provided Los Angeles County with a password-protected thumb drive containing names and gave a 48-hour deadline for review.
  • Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan refused to review the thumb drive, citing data security protocols.
  • California Secretary of State Shirley Weber stated the DOJ had not provided her office with the list of voters.

Reported by only some outlets

  • The Guardian notes that in a similar Nevada investigation, all individuals flagged by DHS were found to be citizens.
  • CBS News reports the DOJ Civil Rights Division has filed 31 lawsuits regarding voter rolls and has not achieved a legal victory to date.
  • The Guardian mentions the thumb drive password was handwritten.
  • CBS News identifies specific officials involved, including Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.

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CadNews does not determine absolute truth or endorse political viewpoints. It compares publicly available reporting, identifies shared facts, highlights framing differences, and flags uncertainty.