Supreme Court Denies Trump Administration Emergency Request
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a last-ditch effort from the Trump administration requiring California to separate mail ballots received from thousands of individuals alleged to be non-citizens. In a one-line, unsigned order, the high court denied the Justice Department's request for an emergency injunction to force California election officials to set aside ballots from 20,000 alleged noncitizens. The court acted without asking California election officials to respond, and there were no noted dissents.
Background on the California Mail Ballots Dispute
The legal battle unfolded during the closing days of the 2026 midterm campaign season, as Republicans fight to maintain control of the House and Senate. Voting in California has been underway since early October, with more than 6 million mail ballots returned to election offices statewide. Out of more than 23 million registered voters in California, the Trump administration previously claimed there were over 20,000 suspected noncitizens on voter rolls.
Federal authorities initially contacted officials in Los Angeles County and later sent letters to all of California's 58 counties demanding that ballots from listed individuals be put aside until citizenship could be confirmed. However, state and local officials raised concerns regarding the accuracy of the list and the risk that U.S. citizens could be disenfranchised.
Legal Challenges in Federal Courts
Before reaching the Supreme Court, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against California officials, including Dean Logan, the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder and county clerk.
- A U.S. district judge, David Carter, rejected a temporary restraining order last week, calling the government's identification process "rife with uncertainty and errors."
- A divided federal appeals court subsequently refused to order election workers to set aside the mail ballots.
- Lower federal courts and the 9th Circuit consistently declined the Justice Department's intervention requests.
Actions in Other States
The Trump administration also took steps to intervene in elections elsewhere across the country. Federal prosecutors sent a letter to Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs demanding he set aside mail ballots from more than 400 people claimed to be non-citizens, though Hobbs stated the list contained many actual U.S. citizens. Additionally, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit seeking to block Alaska from certifying its Senate election results if Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan lost to Democrat Mary Peltola, but a judge tossed out that suit on Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Supreme Court decide regarding California mail ballots?
The Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's request for an emergency injunction requiring California election officials to set aside mail ballots from 20,000 alleged noncitizens.
How many mail ballots have been returned in California?
More than 6 million mail ballots have been returned to election offices across California since voting began in early October.
Who is Dean Logan?
Dean Logan is the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder and county clerk who was named as a defendant in the Justice Department lawsuit.