U.S. Justice Department directs California counties to segregate noncitizen ballots

The Justice Department issued orders to multiple California counties requiring them to separately store and preserve ballots from voters flagged in state systems as potential noncitizens, according to federal officials. The move comes as election administrators nationwide grapple with ensuring voter rolls accurately reflect only eligible citizens.

California's Department of Motor Vehicles flagged the affected voters after identifying individuals who may not have established citizenship when obtaining or renewing driver's licenses. State election officials subsequently notified county registrars to scrutinize these individuals' voter registrations and take appropriate action.

The Justice Department's directive compels counties to physically segregate these ballots from standard election materials pending resolution of citizenship status. Officials stated the measure aims to preserve evidence and maintain election integrity while legal challenges proceed through the courts.

Civil rights advocates have raised concerns about the implementation, questioning whether voters received adequate notice and opportunity to contest eligibility determinations. Election experts note that California's voter registration process typically requires citizenship verification, though discrepancies can emerge during administrative data-sharing between state agencies.

The directive applies to the general election scheduled for November and could affect an undisclosed number of voters across the state. Election officials have been directed to complete citizenship status reviews before votes are officially counted and certified.