Appeals Court Rejects DOJ Bid to Block Processing of 20,000 California Ballots

California election officials can continue processing and counting mail-in ballots without federal intervention while lower court hearings proceed toward the state's December certification deadline.

• •The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to reject the Justice Department's second appeal to stop the processing of 20,000 disputed ballots.
• •The disputed ballots involve registered voters whom the federal government suspects may be non-citizens.
• •U.S. District Judge David O. Carter previously denied a temporary restraining order to sequester the ballots, stating it would disrupt an ongoing election.
• •Judge Carter scheduled an expedited hearing for Nov. 13 to examine the reliability of the federal government's data and methodology.
• •Election officials have until Dec. 3 to resolve the issue and certify election results.
• •Federal prosecutors issued subpoenas to California state and local election officials regarding alleged illegal voting.
• •The Justice Department previously sued California on Oct. 15 after the state refused to voluntarily set aside the 20,000 ballots.
• •State officials, including Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan, argued they lack the legal authority and mechanisms to freeze mail ballots.
• •The Justice Department has reportedly sued 30 states that refused to turn over voter data, losing the majority of cases to date.