White House seeks Supreme Court vote halt
Emergency filing asks justices to pause counting for 20,000 California mail-in ballots ahead of midterms.
By Madison Lewis ·
Mail-in ballots from approximately 20,000 California voters may be set aside before Tuesday’s midterm elections if the Supreme Court grants an emergency request from the Trump administration.
The Department of Justice filed the petition on Monday, one day before voting concludes. The administration wants California to hold ballots from voters listed by the Department of Homeland Security until citizenship is confirmed. California officials argue the data is unreliable and that separating the ballots now is nearly impossible since voting began in early October.
Judge David Carter rejected the initial federal request last week. He noted that unproven allegations threaten the ongoing election. The administration sought review after a federal appeals court denied the request on Friday. The state argues the move risks disenfranchising eligible citizens.
The legal clash occurs as Republicans fight to retain control of Congress. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed widespread voter fraud, though state audits and studies indicate noncitizen voting is rare. California, the most populous state, remains a key Democratic stronghold in the coming vote.
