Appeals Court Rejects Trump Administration Request to Block California Mail-in Ballots
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a second emergency request from the Justice Department seeking to temporarily block California from counting mail-in ballots for approximately 20,000 registered voters. The Trump administration alleges these individuals are likely noncitizens, but judges expressed concerns that granting the injunction could lead to widespread voter disenfranchisement. The legal battle centers on a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department requesting that California separate and withhold specific ballots until citizenship can be verified. However, both the appellate court and a lower district court judge have questioned the reliability of the administration's data, with Judge David Carter noting that complying with the request would "wreak havoc" on the upcoming midterm elections.