DOJ Asks Supreme Court to Block Counting of 20,000 CA Mail Ballots
Published on · Source: cnbc.com
AI Summary
Summarized by AI from the source belowThe Department of Justice (DOJ) has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to temporarily stop California from counting mail-in ballots from about 20,000 voters. The DOJ claims these voters are likely not U.S. citizens and therefore ineligible to vote in federal elections. This request came after the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals rejected the DOJ's appeal to overturn a federal judge's ruling allowing the ballots to be counted.
The petition was filed a day before Election Day for the upcoming midterm elections, which will decide party control in Congress. Solicitor General D. John Sauer stated that once the ballots are mixed with lawful votes, they cannot be separated. The DOJ argues it has suffered a legal injury due to the votes cast by alleged non-citizens, challenging the lower court's decision that the DOJ lacked standing. A federal district judge had denied the DOJ's request to exclude these ballots, emphasizing the importance of maintaining state election procedures.
This legal dispute matters because it could affect the validity and counting of thousands of mail-in ballots in California, a pivotal state in federal elections. How the Supreme Court responds may influence how states handle questions of voter eligibility near election dates, potentially impacting vote totals and election outcomes in Congress.
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Our take
Opinion from the Newsstocks AI desk, not investment adviceWe think the DOJ's legal challenge reflects significant concerns over voter eligibility enforcement. The Supreme Court's decision will clarify the balance between federal authority and state election rules. The ultimate ruling could set precedent for how disputed ballots are handled in future elections.
Key numbers
- Number of contested mail-in ballots
- about 20,000
- Date DOJ filed initial lawsuit
- Oct. 15
What could hurt
- If counted, alleged non-citizen votes could affect federal election results in California.
What to watch next
The Supreme Court could act on the DOJ's petition at any time before or after Election Day.
The background
Mail-in ballots are votes submitted through postal mail before an election. Courts can intervene to address voting eligibility disputes.
Questions readers ask
Why did the DOJ ask the Supreme Court to block California mail-in ballots?
The DOJ asked to block about 20,000 mail-in ballots from voters who may not be U.S. citizens, believing these ballots are illegal to count in federal elections.
What did the 9th Circuit Court decide about the DOJ's request?
The 9th Circuit rejected the DOJ's appeal to overturn a district court ruling that allowed the ballots to be counted.
What is the significance of the Supreme Court's possible action?
The Supreme Court's decision could stop the counting of these ballots before or after Election Day, affecting the election outcome in California.
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