Federal Demand to Check 20,000 Ballots Draws 48-Hour Clock in California

California's top election lawyer accused the Trump administration on Saturday of using federal power against political opponents, hours after a Justice Department demand that state officials review a list of about 20,000 ballots within 48 hours. "It is once again the United States Department of Justice politicizing and weaponizing the law to attack its enemies, and it is completely improper," Attorney General Rob Bonta said in an interview with MS Now.

The request reached county election offices less than two weeks before the midterms. Federal prosecutors asked for confirmation on whether the voters tied to those ballots are citizens. Several state officials did not answer letters sent Friday because of the approaching election, and the standoff moved to court. An appeals court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday.

California election workers have said the review could deny ballots to eligible voters. Officials in Los Angeles reported this week that a "high percentage" of the people on the list were born in the United States. Bonta has also questioned what supports the list. At a recent press conference he said officials received names alone, with no reason for treating anyone as ineligible. "If they have such information, we would be happy to review it, but they've provided none," he said.

Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on social media that the department, in seeking evidence of "widespread voter fraud," sent counties lists naming people who never cast ballots and voters filed under the wrong county. He called the situation an "Absolute clown show!" Pete Aguilar, a congressman from south-west San Bernardino county, wrote that "Voter intimidation has no place in our democracy."

The Justice Department said the review is meant to protect the vote. "We are asking each county election official to commit to working with us by providing the necessary information for DHS to quickly verify citizenship status," it said. "With their help, we can ensure the most secure election in California history." The department has filed charges against 28 foreign nationals on accusations of registering to vote without citizenship. First assistant US attorney Bill Essayli said the arrests showed that "California is mailing ballots to noncitizens, and they are refusing to comply with federal law, which makes it a crime for noncitizens to vote." The defendants are lawful permanent residents, a legal status that does not confer the vote.

Voting by noncitizens remains rare. The Justice Department has stepped up prosecutions of people accused of casting ballots without US citizenship as the midterms approach, part of a national Republican effort targeting alleged fraud among undocumented immigrants.