US appeals court refuses Trump administration bid to halt California mail ballot count
The US ninth circuit court of appeals has rejected a Justice Department request to stop California counting mail ballots from voters the federal government says are likely noncitizens. The ruling comes a week before the midterm elections for Congress.
A US federal appeals court in San Francisco, the ninth circuit, on Monday turned down a request from President Donald Trump's justice department to block California from counting mail ballots from people on a list of more than 20,000 registered voters. The federal government alleges that these people are likely noncitizens. The ruling comes ahead of the 3 November midterm elections, in which Trump's fellow Republicans are fighting to retain control of Congress.
Latest setback for Trump
The decision is the latest setback in Trump's efforts to assert a greater federal role in overseeing elections in the run-up to the vote.
Letters to counties and the lawsuit
On Friday, at least 18 California counties received letters demanding that local election officials set aside and verify ballots that Trump's administration claims belong to noncitizen voters. The justice department's lawsuit was filed earlier this month and marked the latest escalation in the administration's battle with California.
The source report says it is still developing and that more details will follow.
