Judge blocks Trump bid to segregate California ballots

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 01:20 · Archive

A federal judge rejected a Trump administration request to segregate up to 20,000 California ballots pending immigration verification.

A federal judge has rejected a Trump administration request to segregate the ballots of up to 20,000 people in California, ruling that doing so would 'wreak havoc' on the midterm elections. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter issued the decision on Wednesday, as more than 3.7 million voters had already cast their ballots in the state.

The Republican administration had sued California's election officials in mid-October, accusing them of failing to meet a 48-hour deadline to review a list of 20,000 names it alleged were likely noncitizens on the state's voter rolls. The administration asked the judge to require the state to delay counting those ballots until the voters' immigration status could be verified. The federal government had also asked an appeals court for a quick ruling before the scheduled 27 October hearing, but that effort was rejected.

California officials warned in court filings that segregating the ballots would potentially 'disenfranchise legitimate voters', delay election certification and 'cause general uncertainty in the election results'. The ruling represents the latest legal setback for President Donald Trump in his efforts to expand federal control over state-run elections. Voting continues in California ahead of 3 November, when U.S. voters will decide control of Congress.

How it is being reported

• Judge denies federal request to segregate California ballots, says it would 'wreak havoc' on votingA federal judge has rejected a Trump administration request to stop California from processing the ballots of up to 20,000 people, warning it would “wreak havoc” on the midterm elections.Clickorlando · 29 Oct, 00:41
• Judge denies federal request to segregate California ballots, says it would 'wreak havoc' on votingA federal judge has rejected a Trump administration request to stop California from processing the ballots of up to 20,000 people, warning it would “wreak havoc” on the midterm elections.News4Jax · 29 Oct, 00:41

In this story: Donald Trump · David O. Carter · California · United States

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