Trump administration asks Washington state to set aside ballots from 400 voters it says may be noncitizens

The Justice Department is pressing Washington state to hold back any ballots from more than 400 people it believes registered without being U. S. citizens, a demand that comes weeks before the midterm. In a letter to the Secretary of State's Office, federal officials said those individuals accounted for 1,500 votes in earlier elections. Acting U. S. Attorney Neil Floyd told reporters the aim is to keep the ballots aside until eligibility is confirmed. The department also expects to send another list before Election Day and acknowledged that some of those named may have naturalized since registering, according to PBS NewsHour.

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is reviewing the demand. His office says roughly 60 subpoenas about voters have arrived from federal authorities over the past month. Hobbs said his office will answer only requests that follow due process, citing events in California and a wish to spare Washington residents from harassment.

California is fighting a comparable demand covering up to 20,000 people, and appellate judges there questioned its timing, constitutionality and legal basis. A Los Angeles County official, Monica Flores, said a 200-record sample from the federal list included canceled registrations, people who never voted and apparent U. S. -born voters.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →