Bonta Files Suit to Halt 48-Hour Federal Deadline for 20,000 Ballot Checks

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a federal lawsuit on Saturday to block a Justice Department order requiring local election officials to verify the citizenship status of approximately 20,000 ballots within 48 hours. Bonta argued that the federal government is using legal tools to attack political opponents ahead of the midterm elections. He described the action as improper and a clear attempt to politicize the law.

The dispute centers on a list of names provided to county election officials by federal prosecutors. The Justice Department stated it is requesting cooperation to ensure the most secure election in California history. However, Bonta noted that officials received only names without any supporting evidence explaining why those individuals were deemed ineligible. He said the state is willing to review any information the federal government possesses, but has not yet received it.

Local election leaders have expressed concern that the tight deadline could result in the removal of eligible voters from the rolls. Officials in Los Angeles reported that a high percentage of the people on the list were born in the United States. The rapid timeline leaves little time for counties to cross-check records against other state databases before the November 3 elections.

Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the effort on social media, calling it an absolute clown show. He claimed the Department of Justice was desperate to prove widespread voter fraud and sent lists that included people who never voted and voters from the wrong county. Congressman Pete Aguilar, representing a district in south-west San Bernardino County, wrote that voter intimidation has no place in the democracy.

The legal challenge is the latest move in a broader federal effort to prosecute noncitizen voting. Last week, the Justice Department charged 28 foreign nationals with fraudulently registering to vote. Bill Essayli, the first assistant US attorney, said the arrests demonstrate that California is mailing ballots to noncitizens who are refusing to comply with federal law. All 28 defendants are lawful permanent residents who hold legal status in the country but are not citizens.

The lawsuit follows a period of inaction by some state officials who did not respond to letters sent Friday. They cited the close proximity to the election date as the reason for the delay. That decision triggered the current legal battle. An appeals court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday, with a decision that could determine whether the 48-hour verification deadline stands or is paused before voting day.