WASHINGTON (AURN News) — The Justice Department wants California to set aside ballots from roughly 20,000 registered voters it alleges are likely noncitizens. But now a federal judge wants an independent look at how those voters landed on the government’s list.
U.S. District Judge David Carter says he intends to appoint a special master — an independent reviewer appointed by the court — to examine the administration’s claims that those people are likely noncitizens.
Carter did not rule on the department’s emergency request at Tuesday’s hearing.
DOJ says it’s enforcing the ban on noncitizen voting in federal elections. But Los Angeles County officials say their preliminary review of 200 names included people who reported being born in the United States and many with no voting history.
With voting already underway, Carter raised concerns about eligible Americans losing their votes. The question is whether the government’s evidence is reliable enough to justify setting aside anyone’s ballot.
