CAL.Litigation
DOJ sues California over more than 20,000 registrants it says are likely noncitizens
The Justice Department sued California on October 15, 2026, seeking to stop tabulation of vote-by-mail ballots from more than 20,000 people it says are likely noncitizens after comparing state voter rolls with federal immigration data. Voting-rights groups warned the suit may conflict with an October 9, 2026, D.C. court order vacating DOJ's voter-roll purge policy, Above the Law and Democracy Docket reported.
Filing (U.S. Department of Justice) → · Democracy Docket, Above the Law
Key points
- DOJ and DHS say a preliminary match of California voter files to federal immigration data flagged more than 20,000 likely noncitizen registrants.U.S. Department of Justice
- The complaint asks a federal court in Los Angeles to enjoin California from tabulating mail ballots from those flagged registrants.U.S. Department of JusticeAbove the Law
- California law generally mails a ballot to every registered voter, which DOJ says facilitates unlawful noncitizen voting.U.S. Department of Justice
- Common Cause told the D.C. court the California suit may violate Judge Sparkle Sooknanan's October 9 vacatur of DOJ's voter-roll purge policy.Democracy Docket
- California Secretary of State Shirley Weber told DOJ its letters appeared to use a policy a federal court already deemed unlawful.Democracy Docket
- DOJ on October 16 appealed Sooknanan's vacatur order to the D.C. Circuit, Democracy Docket reported.Democracy Docket