DOJ files charges against 28 lawful permanent residents in California for allegedly registering to vote or casting ballots they were not entitled to cast. The move, led by the Department of Justice, also included an emergency filing in federal court seeking to halt the state from processing ballots returned by people the federal government says are “likely noncitizens.”
The defendants are identified in the federal complaint as green card holders accused of participating in registration or voting activity they are not legally permitted to undertake. U.S. law limits participation in federal, state and local elections to citizens; lawful permanent residence does not confer voting rights in such contests. Criminal proceedings for alleged voting offenses can include charges tied to false statements on registration forms and the act of casting a ballot when ineligible.
The emergency court filing asks a judge to prevent election officials from processing ballots associated with names flagged by federal authorities as likely noncitizens. That request escalates an existing dispute over how voter rolls and returned mail ballots should be handled when federal and state data assessments diverge. The litigation could affect how counties verify eligibility, whether ballots are segregated or counted, and how quickly election administrators can certify results in closely contested contests.
The federal action is likely to prompt a legal contest between prosecutors and state election officials over procedures and standards for confirming voter eligibility. Election administrators must balance access to the ballot with safeguards against ineligible participation, while courts will be tasked with resolving whether the emergency measures sought are appropriate under federal law. The case will proceed in federal court, where judges will consider the government’s request and the state’s response as the matter moves through the judicial process.
