The US Supreme Court has denied a last-minute request by the Trump administration to intervene in California's midterm election vote count. The justice department had sought to set aside 20,000 ballots that it alleged may have been issued to non-US citizens in the state. This request was made on the eve of the midterms, which would determine the control of the US Congress for the last two years of President Donald Trump's second term.
Two lower courts had already rejected the request, and state election officials had questioned the federal government's claims, citing the inaccuracy of the process used to identify alleged non-citizens. The Supreme Court announced its decision in a one-line order, denying the justice department's request for an injunction. This means that the rulings made in lower courts will stand, and the Trump administration's bid to disqualify the ballots has essentially ended.
California is the most populous state in America, with around 23 million people on its voting register. As of Sunday night, more than six million mail-in ballots had already been received, according to the California secretary of state's office. The justice department had sent letters to the California secretary of state and Los Angeles County Registrar, demanding they set aside the ballots of 20,000 registered voters whom the Trump administration believed were likely non-citizens.
The attempts to disqualify the ballots are part of a years-long campaign by Trump and his administration to fight alleged voter fraud, which they believe is widespread. However, research has shown that voter fraud is extremely rare. President Trump has repeatedly claimed that Democrats steal elections by allowing immigrants to vote illegally, often blaming mail-in or postal voting permitted in many Democratic states.
A federal appeals court declined the government's request to segregate the ballots on Friday. California election officials have questioned the accuracy of the government's claims, saying the list of names provided is riddled with inaccuracies. They have expressed concern that eligible voters could be disenfranchised and that segregating ballots while voting is underway is unfeasible.
In a scathing ruling, district judge David Carter said the government's move in California was indicative of an ongoing pattern of attempted election interference on the part of the Trump administration. The judge added that never before in American history had the federal government, on the eve of an election, sought to coerce a state and local government to abandon their own constitutional elections procedures.
The Supreme Court's decision allows the vote count to proceed without interference, ensuring that the will of California's voters is respected. The ruling is a significant development in the midterm elections, which will have far-reaching implications for the balance of power in the US Congress. The outcome will determine the legislative agenda for the remainder of President Trump's term.
Key points
- The US Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's request to stop California from counting disputed ballots.
- The request was made to set aside 20,000 ballots allegedly issued to non-US citizens.
- The Supreme Court's decision allows the vote count to proceed without interference.
