Justice Department Orders California Officials to Set Aside Suspected Noncitizen Ballots
The U.S. Justice Department has ordered California county election officials to identify and set aside ballots from suspected noncitizens, warning that officials who knowingly count these ballots could face criminal liability.
Lexington, KY, October 25, 2026 —
The U.S. Justice Department has ordered county election officials in California to identify and set aside ballots from people suspected of being noncitizens. The department also warned that officials who knowingly count those ballots could face criminal liability, according to the information provided.
The summary does not specify when the order was issued, which counties or elections it covers, or how officials are expected to identify ballots associated with suspected noncitizens. It also does not provide the number of ballots potentially involved or describe what evidence would establish a person’s citizenship status.
The warning concerns officials who knowingly count ballots in the described circumstances. The information provided does not detail what conduct would meet that standard, identify any officials accused of wrongdoing, or report that any ballots have been counted or set aside under the order.
The Justice Department’s order, as summarized, directs county officials to take two steps: identify the ballots in question and keep them separate. The summary does not explain what happens to ballots after they are set aside, whether voters can challenge their treatment, or whether additional procedures accompany the directive.
No statements from California election officials, affected voters, or other parties were included in the information provided. The order’s legal basis, the specific potential criminal penalties, and any response from state or county authorities were also not specified. Those details remain unclear from the available summary.
Story summarized from the original created by Karina Tsui, Maria Aguilar Prieto, Isa Mudannayake on www.lex18.com, see more information here.
