The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to block California from counting more than 20,000 mail-in ballots, after the Department of Justice sought an injunction alleging non-U.S. citizens were attempting to vote. This legal battle unfolded just days before the midterm elections, as the Trump administration pushed claims that ballots from ineligible voters were mixed with valid ones in the state’s election process.

The DOJ, led by former Trump attorney Todd Blanche, filed a lawsuit in mid-October asserting it had a list identifying noncitizens registered to vote in California. After a California district court dismissed the initial lawsuit, the Justice Department requested a limited injunction compelling California to separate those ballots during a verification process. However, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, allowing California to continue processing and counting mail-in ballots.

District Court Warns Against Impact on Election Integrity

Los Angeles District Judge David Carter criticized the administration’s suit for risking “havoc” on election procedures and eroding voters’ trust. He emphasized that without verified proof, attempts to discount votes could jeopardize democratic norms. Judge Carter also noted that many individuals flagged as noncitizens on voter lists in other states had later proven to be naturalized citizens, underscoring flaws in the methodology used by federal agencies to identify ineligible voters.

California Defends Election Process amid Scrutiny

California officials defended the integrity of their election system, asserting that the Trump administration’s identification of noncytizen voters was probably inaccurate and error-prone. Analysis of the disputed voter list, compiled by the Department of Homeland Security, revealed thousands of flagged voters were actually U.S. citizens. A federal judge recently ordered the DOJ to share its list with immigrant advocacy groups and voting rights organizations to allow independent review.

Political Context and State Response

California, the nation’s most populous state and a strong Democratic stronghold, was not expected to be competitive for the Republican Party in this cycle. The state’s leadership, including Governor Gavin Newsom, has been vocal in warning against federal interference in California’s elections. Ahead of the midterms, Newsom announced deployment of experts, poll observers, and voter hotlines to counter potential intimidation or interference at the polls.