NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedOctober 25, 2026Miami-Dade County
California election officials rattled by DOJ demand to sequester ballots
Photo: WPLG Local 10 – Main Feed
Local election officials in California received letters from the U.S. Department of Justice demanding they sequester ballots from roughly 20,000 voters suspected of being noncitizens. The federal government set a 48-hour deadline and warned of potential prosecution for officials who count those ballots, while local registrars and state officials have questioned the accuracy of the federal data and continued processing votes.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
County election registrars face potential federal prosecution if they process ballots identified by the Justice Department, while voters on the federal list face scrutiny and potential challenges to their registered status days before the election.
Key Facts
- The U.S. Department of Justice sent letters to county registrars across California demanding the sequestration of ballots for roughly 20,000 voters suspected of being noncitizens.
- The federal letters requested sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, within a 48-hour deadline.
- Federal prosecutors warned that election officials who knowingly count a noncitizen's vote could face prosecution.
- The California attorney general's office stated that the federal letters contained errors, such as listing non-residents for Mendocino County.
- A panel of 9th Circuit appeals court judges scheduled a hearing to address whether California must comply with the federal demands.
- Federal authorities charged 28 people from the list of 20,000 with illegally registering to vote during a statewide sweep.
- A preliminary county analysis of 200 names from the federal list found that over 40% had canceled registrations, over 70% had no voting history, and nearly 4 in 10 were born in the U.S.
- Local election officials stated they are proceeding with counting mail-in ballots as planned despite the federal demands.
Who's Mentioned
locationMendocino County“County that received a list of people who were not residents there.”locationContra Costa County“County where Kristin B. Connelly serves as clerk-recorder.”OrganizationJustice Department“Federal agency demanding ballot sequestration and voter information.”locationAmador County“Rural county where Kim Grady serves as Clerk-Recorder.”PersonKristin B. Connelly“Contra Costa County clerk-recorder and registrar of voters.”OrganizationAssociated Press“News organization reporting on the letters and interviews.”locationCalifornia“State where local election officials received federal letters.”OrganizationDepartment of Homeland Security“Federal department whose officers delivered a letter in Napa County.”locationNapa County“County in California where John Tuteur serves as registrar.”locationLos Angeles“Large county and city mentioned in connection with vote counts and federal prose”PersonBill Essayli“Top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles.”PersonKiersten Pels“Department of Justice spokeswoman.”locationMinnesota“State where Attorney General Todd Blanche announced federal charges regarding il”PersonJohn Tuteur“Registrar of voters for Napa County.”locationNevada“Neighboring state referenced regarding prior noncitizen voter claims.”PersonTodd Blanche“Attorney general who announced federal charges in Minnesota.”PersonDonald Trump“President whose Justice Department issued the letters and demands.”PersonKim Grady“Clerk-Recorder in Amador County.”