DOJ gives California counties 48 hours to check voter records

The U.S. Justice Department has given California counties 48 hours to provide records about people it suspects are noncitizens and asked officials to set aside, but not cancel, associated mail ballots while citizenship is checked. The department warned that officials could face legal consequences for knowingly counting ballots cast by noncitizens. The letters, sent Friday, October 23, seek identifying details including Social Security numbers and voter registration records. The Justice Department says county officials should work with federal agencies to determine who on its lists is a citizen. Reports said 57 of California’s 58 counties received letters; Los Angeles County had received earlier notice. County officials said they were already processing ballots ahead of the November 3 midterm election. The county demands follow a federal lawsuit filed October 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The Justice Department is seeking to block the counting of ballots associated with more than 20,000 people until their citizenship is verified. That figure describes people the department suspects or considers likely to be noncitizens, not a verified...