Election officials in Los Angeles County reported in federal court filings Tuesday that a Justice Department roster identifying 20,000 registered voters as suspected noncitizens appears flawed, with a preliminary review finding that nearly 40 percent of sampled records with birthplace data listed birth inside the United States.
The disclosures follow a federal lawsuit filed against California after state and local authorities rejected a Justice Department demand to isolate ballots cast by people on the list unless their citizenship could be verified. California officials argued in court documents that undertaking such an effort weeks before an election is unworkable and risks violating federal and state voting statutes, calling the litigation a move that threatens to disenfranchise eligible voters.
Flaws Found in County Sampling
The dispute arose after federal authorities delivered the list of approximately 20,000 names gathered by the Department of Homeland Security, claiming they were registered voters throughout California who were likely not citizens. Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan noted in court records that only 7,035 individuals on the roster had local addresses, alongside several duplicate entries.
Staff in the Los Angeles County clerk and recorder’s office examined an initial sample of 200 records to assess the reliability of the federal data. Assistant Registrar-Recorder Monica Flores wrote in a court declaration that the sample review shows the federal spreadsheet is unreliable.
County officials reported that among records where a place of birth was provided, 38.9 percent indicated the person was born in the United States. Being born on American soil grants citizenship in almost all circumstances under the U.S. Constitution. Officials also discovered that about 71 percent of the sampled individuals had never cast a ballot, and over 40 percent had registrations that were canceled or marked inactive.
Federal Push and Criminal Charges
The Justice Department has maintained that California is required to act. Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels said in a statement to news outlets that the state cannot facilitate violations of federal statute. Pels added that simply writing a U.S. birthplace on a form does not make someone eligible to vote and accused California of willful blindness.
However, top federal officials have also acknowledged that the federal data is not without flaws. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter stated, “There may be some names on there who it turns out ultimately are citizens, we’re not perfect.” McCotter said that was the reason the administration requested California’s cooperation.
On Monday, federal prosecutors announced criminal charges against 28 individuals on the list under an initiative dubbed Operation Protect the Vote. All 28 people charged were legal permanent residents, known as green-card holders, who are permitted to live and work in the country but are barred from voting in federal and state elections.
Several defendants indicated they had not realized registering or voting was prohibited. Kamlesh Shah, 68, told Sacramento television station KCRA 3 that he believed possessing a Real ID card allowed him to vote. In Sonoma County, prosecutors charged 43-year-old Verónica Bullene with four counts, alleging she falsely claimed citizenship and cast ballots in past elections while holding permanent residency, The Press Democrat reported.
What Comes Next
The court fight unfolds as California prepares for an election with more than 23 million registered voters statewide. Those charged under the federal initiative have hearings scheduled for Nov. 9, while federal courts continue to weigh whether the Justice Department can force election administrators to set aside ballots before the vote counting concludes.
