DOJ Lawsuit Targets 20,000 Alleged Noncitizen Voters in California Ahead of 2026 Midterms

The U.S. Department of Justice filed suit on October 15, 2026, against California, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, and Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan, seeking a court order to prevent the tabulation of mail ballots from approximately 20,000 voters flagged by federal agencies as likely noncitizens until their citizenship can be verified.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that USCIS and Homeland Security Investigations used federal immigration records, Social Security Administration data, and State Department information to identify the individuals on state voter rolls. It claims California failed to cooperate after receiving a password-protected list via thumb drive and a 48-hour ultimatum to review and segregate affected ballots.

Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, 'State-facilitated voter fraud is unacceptable in the United States of America,' warning that the state could undermine confidence in the electoral system.

California officials rejected the demands as unsubstantiated and procedurally flawed. Gov. Gavin Newsom called it a 'sad, desperate attempt' at voter suppression three weeks before Election Day. Secretary Weber noted prior unsubstantiated claims of up to 190,000 noncitizens and criticized the lack of methodology or secure data sharing. Logan declined to access the drive over security concerns.

This action reflects broader federal efforts, including similar reviews in Nevada, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. In Nevada, a smaller flagged list yielded no confirmed noncitizens. Legal experts have raised concerns about data accuracy, the National Voter Registration Act's 90-day quiet period, and the lawsuit's timing amid early voting.

The suit seeks injunctive relief under the Supremacy Clause rather than a voter purge, highlighting escalating partisan tensions over election integrity as millions of ballots are already in circulation.