DOJ sues California over alleged 20,000 suspected noncitizen voter registrations

CALIFORNIA (KESQ) - The U.S. Department of Justice has sued California, alleging that more than 20,000 individuals believed to be noncitizens are registered to vote and may have received mail-in ballots for the November 3, 2026, federal election.

Federal officials say they identified the individuals by analyzing voter registration records and comparing them with federal immigration data. The Justice Department asked California election officials to verify the individuals’ citizenship status and set aside ballots from those whose eligibility could not be confirmed.

California officials have also disputed broader federal claims about noncitizen registrations, saying previous allegations were not supported by sufficient evidence.

The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring California to verify citizenship before counting the flagged ballots. Federal officials argue the action is necessary to protect election integrity, noting that noncitizens are prohibited from voting in federal elections.

California officials have pushed back against the federal demands. Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office called the administration’s request inappropriate, while Secretary of State Shirley Weber said California has established procedures to ensure only eligible citizens register to vote.

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, County Clerk Dean Logan also raised concerns about data security, saying his office had not accessed a password-protected thumb drive containing the federal government’s list because it did not meet established security protocols. He emphasized that voter eligibility decisions must rely on verifiable information rather than unconfirmed data matches.

The dispute now places election integrity, voter privacy and federal oversight of state-run elections at the center of a legal battle ahead of the November election. The allegations remain subject to judicial review, and the number of individuals ultimately confirmed to be ineligible to vote has not been established.