A federal appeals court has denied the Justice Department's emergency request to set aside approximately 20,000 mail-in ballots in California linked to suspected noncitizens. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the DOJ did not sufficiently demonstrate its authority or the reliability of its claims. This decision may lead to a Supreme Court appeal ahead of the midterm elections. The court expressed concerns about the potential disenfranchisement of eligible voters and the integrity of the election process.
Key facts
- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 against the DOJ's request.
- Approximately 20,000 mail-in ballots were flagged as linked to suspected noncitizens.
- Judge Mark Bennett and Judge Gabriel Sanchez formed the majority opinion.
- The DOJ's claims were based on voter-registration records and immigration data.
- U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is expected to rule on related requests by Monday.
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