Appeals court sceptical of Trump voter fraud lawsuit against California

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 04:56 · Archive

A federal appeals court panel expressed doubt over the Trump administration's lawsuit demanding California set aside thousands of mail-in ballots.

A federal appellate court panel met on a rare Sunday to hear arguments from the Trump administration in its lawsuit against California. The administration seeks to force the state to set aside mail-in ballots it claims may have been cast by non-citizens, based on a list of 20,000 names submitted by the Department of Justice.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco, appeared sceptical of the government's case. Judge Mark Bennett, a Trump appointee, questioned whether the lawsuit aligned with the Elections Clause in the US Constitution, which gives states—not the federal government—authority to administer elections. When government attorney Matthew Donnelly argued the administration used a 'rigorous process' to compile its list, Bennett asked whether election workers could legally disqualify voters without 'extraordinary proof' from the federal government.

California officials have called the request legally baseless and characterised it as a last-ditch effort to intervene in next week's midterm elections. The state said it has already lost more than two dozen court challenges over the past year on similar matters. Judge Bennett said the three-judge panel would issue a decision as soon as possible.

How it is being reported

• US appeals court sceptical of Trump’s lawsuit over California voter rollsJudge questions Trump-led effort to exert greater influence over elections process ahead of upcoming midterm vote.Al Jazeera · 26 Oct, 04:32
• Appellate court panel grills DOJ lawyers on Calif. voter fraud suitA federal appellate court panel posed skeptical questions to Trump administration lawyers Sunday as they pressed a California voter fraud suit.UPI · 26 Oct, 01:38

In this story: Trump administration · California · 9th Circuit Court of Appeals · Mark Bennett · Matthew Donnelly · Department of Justice

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