Appeals Court Blocks DOJ Effort to Isolate 20,000 California Ballots
WHO:
CBS News - U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued the order in a lawsuit brought by labor unions and other groups.
NBC News - The Trump administration sought to require California to set aside ballots from people it alleged might be noncitizens.
CBS News Politics - The Justice Department (DOJ) asked California to set aside disputed ballots.
NY Post - Federal officials sought to stop California from processing ballots.
CBS News Politics - The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on the DOJ’s request.
WHAT:
CBS News - Thompson issued a temporary restraining order barring the federal government from demanding that election officials separate ballots or refrain from counting certain votes, and from threatening officials with criminal prosecution for noncompliance.
CBS News - The order requires the Justice Department to inform the court about pending search-warrant applications or subpoenas.
CBS News - Thompson found federal officials likely violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965’s prohibition on “attempting to intimidate, threaten or coerce” people who help others vote, and said the government was acting outside its legal or constitutional authority.
CBS News - Thompson wrote that the government’s actions were likely to interfere with election administration and disenfranchise lawful voters.
NBC News - A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s latest bid to require California to set aside ballots associated with over 20,000 people it alleged might be noncitizens.
CBS News Politics - The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Justice Department’s request for California to set aside disputed ballots received in the midterm election.
NY Post - An appellate court ruled that federal officials could not stop California from processing over 20,000 ballots.
NBC News - The court had again rejected the administration’s effort.
WHERE:
NBC News - The ballots were in California.
CBS News Politics - The decision was issued by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
NY Post - The ruling concerned California ballots.
WHEN:
CBS News - The temporary restraining order expires Nov. 16, and the next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13.
WHY:
NBC News - The administration sought to isolate ballots because it alleged that people associated with them might be noncitizens.
HOW:
CBS News - The lawsuit cited letters sent by Justice Department Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon to all 50 states and Washington, D.C., threatening criminal prosecution of local election officials, as well as the department’s demand for lists of voters it believed might be noncitizens.
(UPDATED October 31, 2026 04:02 UTC)
A federal appeals court rejected Trump administration efforts to set aside California ballots. A judge barred officials from separating ballots or threatening election workers with prosecution. The court found the government likely exceeded its authority and risked disenfranchising lawful voters.
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(UPDATED October 30, 2026 23:00 UTC)
A federal appeals court rejected President Trump’s latest bid to restrict California ballot processing. The Justice Department sought to set aside ballots linked to over 20,000 people. Officials alleged those people might be noncitizens; the court rejected the request.