Justice Department Directs California Counties to Flag Suspected Noncitizen Voters’ Ballots
The U.S. Justice Department has directed California county election officials to identify individuals on voter rolls suspected of being noncitizens and to set aside their mail-in ballots, warning that officials who knowingly count such ballots could face criminal liability.
Denver, CO, October 25, 2026 —
The U.S. Justice Department has directed California county election officials to identify people on voter rolls who are suspected of being noncitizens and to set aside their mail-in ballots. The department warned that officials who knowingly count such ballots could face criminal liability.
The directive concerns individuals described as suspected noncitizens; the information provided does not establish that those individuals are ineligible to vote or that any ballots have been counted. It also does not specify how officials are to determine whom to identify, what process should be used to set ballots aside, or how affected voters may challenge a decision.
The summary of the directive does not provide the date it was issued, the counties that received it, or the number of voters or ballots potentially involved. It does not name the officials responsible for carrying it out or provide details about the legal basis cited by the department.
The department’s warning makes the handling of the ballots a central issue: it says officials who knowingly count ballots cast by people identified as noncitizens could face criminal liability. The information provided does not describe any specific allegations, investigations, charges, or penalties, and it does not say that any county official has been accused of wrongdoing.
It is also unclear from the available information whether county officials have responded to the directive or taken any action. No statement from California election officials, affected voters, or other parties was included. Further details about the directive’s scope, the identification process, and any steps taken by counties were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Karina Tsui, Maria Aguilar Prieto, Isa Mudannayake on www.denver7.com, see more information here.
