Judge Denies Federal Request To Segregate CA Ballots, Saying It Would 'Wreak Havoc' On Voting – Patch

Judge Denies Federal Request To Segregate CA Ballots, Saying It Would ‘Wreak Havoc’ On Voting  Patch

"If the Executive can discount votes and threaten an ongoing election due to unproven allegations, then our democracy is in danger." LOS ANGELES, CA — A federal judge rejected on Wednesday a Trump administration request to stop California from processing the ballots of up to 20,000 people over allegations they are likely noncitizens, warning it would “wreak havoc” on the midterm elections. The ruling by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter comes as more than 3.7 million people have already voted in the state. “Eroded trust in our democracy is irreparable. Once a vote is segregated, lasting harm has occurred,” Carter wrote. “If the Executive can discount votes and threaten an ongoing election due to unproven allegations, then our democracy is in danger.

This Court declines to be a party to such process.” Prosecutors for the Justice Department said they would immediately appeal the decision. The decision is the latest legal setback for President Donald Trump in his efforts to expand federal control over state-run elections ahead of voting that will decide control of Congress for the rest of his term. The Republican administration sued election officials in the Democratic state in mid-October, accusing the officials of failing to meet a 48-hour deadline to review a list of 20,000 people it alleged were likely noncitizens on the state’s voter rolls.