Ballot Verification: California Rejects Federal 48-Hour Deadline

California Attorney General Rob Bonta challenged the Department of Justice on Saturday, arguing that federal prosecutors are using a 48-hour deadline to verify 20,000 ballots as a political tool. He stated that the department is acting at the direction of President Donald Trump to attack its enemies. Bonta told MS Now that the move is completely improper and represents a sharp increase in federal oversight ahead of the midterm elections.

Federal prosecutors issued the demand less than two weeks before the vote. They asked county election officials to provide information so the Department of Homeland Security can quickly verify the citizenship status of individuals on a list of suspected noncitizen voters. The Justice Department framed the request as a necessary step to secure the vote and ensure the most secure election in California history.

State election personnel warn that the tight timeline could disqualify eligible citizens. Officials in Los Angeles noted that a high percentage of the people named on the list were born in the United States. This creates a risk that valid ballots are removed from the count while federal agencies complete their checks. The department has recently intensified its prosecution of individuals accused of voting without US citizenship.

Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the federal effort on social media, calling it an absolute clown show. He alleged that the department sent counties lists of people who never voted and voters from the wrong county in a desperate attempt to invent widespread voter fraud. Congressman Pete Aguilar of south-west San Bernardino county agreed, writing that voter intimidation has no place in the democracy.

Bonta has questioned the evidence provided by the federal government. At a recent press conference, he said officials received only names without an explanation of why those individuals were deemed ineligible. He added that if the department possesses such information, the state would be happy to review it, but none has been provided so far. The dispute has led to a legal fight between state and federal authorities.

The Justice Department recently charged 28 foreign nationals with fraudulently registering to vote. Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney, said the arrests prove that California is mailing ballots to noncitizens who are refusing to comply with federal law. The defendants are lawful permanent residents who hold legal status in the US but are not citizens eligible to cast a ballot.

Some state officials took no action on letters sent Friday, citing the rapidly approaching election date. This inaction triggered the current legal battle. An appeals court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday to determine the next steps in the verification process.