On October 30, 2026, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Trump administration's request to block California from counting mail ballots from more than 20,000 voters it alleges are likely noncitizens. This decision follows a similar rejection earlier in the week and emphasizes the court's concern over potential voter disenfranchisement.
The judges noted that the Trump administration's list of alleged noncitizens may not be reliable, highlighting the risk of disenfranchising lawful voters. The case originated from a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department on October 15, which sought to prevent California from counting these ballots until citizenship could be verified.
US District Judge David Carter previously ruled against the administration, stating that such actions could disrupt the election process and disenfranchise eligible voters. California officials have defended their voting safeguards, arguing that the Justice Department's claims are based on questionable data.
This ruling is crucial as it comes during a pivotal election period, where Republicans are striving to maintain their congressional majorities