DoJ Demands California Counties Identify Suspected Noncitizen Voters

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 25, 2026

The U.S. Department of Justice has demanded that election officials in several California counties verify the citizenship of individuals listed in federal databases and withhold mail ballots from suspected noncitizen voters ahead of the midterm elections. California’s attorney general condemned the DOJ’s action as a politically motivated attempt that could disenfranchise eligible voters, intensifying the conflict between federal and state authorities over election oversight.

Less than two weeks before the midterm elections, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued warnings to election officials in several California counties, demanding assistance in identifying suspected noncitizen voters. The DOJ’s letters, dated October 23, instructed local officials to confirm the citizenship status of individuals listed on federal government databases within 48 hours and to withhold mail ballots from those individuals pending verification.

The correspondence, signed by Bilal Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, cautioned that jurisdictions continuing to count ballots from individuals on these lists without first verifying their citizenship could face substantial federal scrutiny and potential legal consequences. The DOJ’s move represents a heightened focus on voter rolls and the prevention of noncitizen voting ahead of the November elections.

California’s attorney general responded swiftly on October 24, accusing the Justice Department of using the legal system as a political tool. The attorney general characterized the actions as an attempt to “politicize and weaponize the law” aimed at targeting individuals perceived to be adversaries of President Donald Trump.

The letters sent to election officials specifically emphasized the DOJ’s expectation that counties cooperate in promptly reviewing and setting aside ballots from individuals flagged in federal databases. The agency’s urgency underlines the contentious national debate over voter eligibility and election security.

While the DOJ asserts that its efforts are part of lawful election integrity measures, California officials and critics argue that the approach risks disenfranchising eligible voters and injecting partisan motivations into election administration during a critical electoral cycle.

The dispute highlights broader tensions between federal and state authorities over election oversight and the implementation of policies affecting voter registration and ballot processing. As the midterm elections approach, these disagreements underscore continuing controversies surrounding voting rights and election management in the United States.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.