Justice Department Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Targeting California Ballots
The US Justice Department has requested to dismiss its lawsuit against California, which sought to stop the counting of approximately 20,000 disputed ballots until the immigration status of voters could be verified.
Greenville New Bern Washington, NC, November 6, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a request to dismiss its lawsuit against the state of California. The legal action had aimed to prevent the tabulation of roughly 20,000 disputed ballots in the state.
The lawsuit’s core objective was to halt the counting of these specific ballots unless the immigration status of the voters who cast them could be verified. The specific details regarding the timeline of the lawsuit’s filing or the current status of the dismissal request were not provided in the summary.
The involvement of the Justice Department in such a case typically signifies federal interest in election processes or civil rights. However, with the request for dismissal, the department is signaling a shift in its stance or an evaluation that the lawsuit is no longer warranted or viable. The summary does not specify the reasons behind the Justice Department’s decision to seek dismissal.
California’s election laws and procedures, particularly concerning voter verification and the handling of disputed ballots, are governed by state statutes. The lawsuit, as described, raised questions about the balance between election integrity measures and voter access. The approximately 20,000 disputed ballots represent a segment of the total votes cast in an unspecified election.
The outcome of the dismissal request remains pending, and further proceedings will determine whether the federal lawsuit concludes. The summary does not contain information regarding any specific responses from California officials to the lawsuit or the dismissal request, nor does it provide details on the contractor or entity involved in verifying voter information.
Story summarized from the original created by SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Associated Press on www.wnct.com, see more information here.
Media gallery
