Skeptical 9th Circuit judges grill DOJ bid to sideline 20,000 California ballots

AP reports that a federal appellate panel questioned the timing, jurisdiction and constitutional basis of the Justice Department’s request that California set aside ballots associated with roughly 20,000 names the administration flagged as possible noncitizens. California and county officials say the federal list contains errors and that segregating ballots risks disenfranchising eligible voters.

Los Angeles County said a sample review of 200 records included inactive registrations and people apparently born in the United States. The litigation concerns federal oversight, state control of election procedures and the evidentiary standard for withholding ballots.