Justice Department Directs California Counties to Set Aside Certain Mail-In Ballots
The Justice Department has ordered election officials in multiple California counties to identify and set aside mail-in ballots cast by individuals suspected of being noncitizens, warning of potential criminal liability for knowingly counting such votes.
West Palm Beach Fort Pierce, FL, October 25, 2026 —
The Justice Department has ordered election officials in multiple California counties to identify and set aside mail-in ballots cast by people suspected of being noncitizens. The department also warned officials of potential criminal liability if they knowingly count such votes, according to the information provided.
The description does not identify the counties involved or say when the order was issued. It does not state how many ballots may be affected, how officials are expected to identify them, or what process would be used to determine whether a voter is a noncitizen. The department’s legal basis for the order was not provided.
The warning is framed around officials who knowingly count ballots cast by individuals suspected of being noncitizens. The information does not explain what standard officials should use to establish knowledge, or whether the order provides guidance for handling cases in which a voter’s citizenship status is uncertain. It also does not specify any potential penalties or describe whether any officials have been accused of violating the order.
No response from the affected county election officials or other parties was included in the summary. It is also unclear whether the counties have acknowledged receiving the directive, taken steps in response, or challenged it. The summary does not say whether any ballots have already been identified or set aside.
The available information therefore leaves key questions about the order’s scope and implementation unanswered. The number of counties, the timing of the directive, the affected ballots and the procedures officials are expected to follow were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Karina Tsui, Maria Aguilar Prieto, Isa Mudannayake on www.wptv.com, see more information here.
