Trump Administration Urges Supreme Court to Block California Mail-In Ballots Ahead of Midterms

In a last-minute legal maneuver, the administration of United States President Donald Trump has petitioned the Supreme Court to halt the counting of mail-in ballots for over 20,000 voters in California, alleging they are not US citizens. This emergency request, submitted on Monday, the day before the midterm elections, escalates a legal dispute between the federal government and California, a state known for its Democratic leanings and large population.

California officials contend that this action could disenfranchise a significant number of eligible voters. The Department of Justice is seeking to have ballots from individuals on a list compiled by the Department of Homeland Security set aside until their citizenship can be verified. However, California argues that this list is unreliable and may erroneously include thousands of US citizens.

Voting commenced in early October, and state authorities maintain that segregating the ballots in question would be practically impossible. A federal judge previously dismissed the administration's request last week, citing concerns about the accuracy of the data. Judge David Carter stated, "If the executive can discount votes and threaten an ongoing election due to unproven allegations, then our democracy is in danger." Following the rejection by a federal appeals court on Friday, the administration has now turned to the Supreme Court.

This controversy unfolds as Republicans strive to maintain their control over Congress in Tuesday's elections. Despite President Trump's repeated unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, numerous studies and state audits have indicated that instances of ineligible voting, including by non-citizens, are infrequent.