Justice Department Asks Ninth Circuit to Block Counting of More Than 20,000 California Ballots
The U.S. Department of Justice has asked the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to intervene in its lawsuit against California, seeking to block the counting of over 20,000 mail-in ballots alleged to be from non-U.S. citizens.
Sioux Falls, SD, October 22, 2026 —
The U.S. Department of Justice has asked the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to intervene in its lawsuit against California, seeking to prevent the counting of more than 20,000 mail-in ballots alleged to be from non-U.S. citizens.
The allegation concerns the ballots’ eligibility; the information provided does not establish that the ballots were cast by non-U.S. citizens. The department’s request is part of a lawsuit against the state, but details about the case’s legal arguments and procedural history were not provided.
The available information does not identify where the ballots were cast, how they were identified, or what evidence the Justice Department cited. It also does not specify when the department filed its request, what action it wants the appeals court to take beyond intervening to block the ballots from being counted, or whether the court has responded.
California’s position in the lawsuit was not provided. The information also does not state whether the ballots have already been counted or when a decision might be made. Those details remain important to understanding the scope and status of the dispute.
For now, the reported development is the Justice Department’s request for the Ninth Circuit to act in the case. The central claim about the ballots remains an allegation, and no ruling or further outcome was included in the information available.
Story summarized from the original created by Ryan Mancini on thehill.com, see more information here.
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