The US Supreme Court on Monday ruled against the Trump administration, rejecting an emergency bid to force California election officials to segregate and withhold thousands of ballots.
The legal dispute centered on approximately 20,000 mail-in ballots from individuals the Department of Justice claimed may be non-citizens. In mid-October, federal officials provided election authorities in Los Angeles and Sacramento with a list of names, demanding a review within 48 hours and threatening legal action if the ballots were not set aside. California election officials refused the demand, prompting a series of courtroom battles.
Following lower court decisions siding with the state—with one judge labeling the DOJ's demand brazen pre-election interference—Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court on Monday. The administration argued that segregating the disputed ballots was necessary to preserve options before votes were comingled with lawful ones ahead of the midterm elections.
The Supreme Court ultimately declined the administration's request, leaving lower court rulings in place and allowing California to proceed with counting the ballots as scheduled.
