San Diego officials defy federal order to hold 1,709 ballots

Four members of San Diego’s congressional delegation backed the county registrar’s refusal to pause counting 1,709 ballots on Monday. The group includes Reps. Scott Peters, Juan Vargas, Sara Jacobs, and Mike Levin.

In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, the lawmakers argued that the Department of Justice request breaches the National Voter Registration Act, the Voting Rights Act, and California state law. They stated the federal move jeopardizes the constitutional right to vote.

The dispute centers on a letter sent last month by U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. Gordon requested that the ballots be left uncounted until citizenship status could be verified. His office warned of legal consequences if non-citizens voted. Gordon gave the registrar 48 hours to comply, a deadline that passed Sunday.

The Justice Department also demanded personal data from the 1,709 voters, including Social Security numbers and copies of state identification. The department claims these voters are part of a list of 20,000 California residents suspected of being non-citizens.

San Diego County rejected the request in a letter obtained by inewsource. The county labeled the demand a thinly veiled voter purge and a request for confidential information without a proper purpose. County officials threatened legal action against the federal government for unlawful intimidation.

The San Diego letter was one of 57 similar communications sent Friday to every California county except Los Angeles. Los Angeles had already received its own directive. In Los Angeles federal court, government attorneys are asking a judge to set aside the 20,000 ballots in question.

U.S. District Judge David Carter heard arguments last week from both sides. He warned federal prosecutors that threats to state and county employees should stop immediately. Carter indicated he would issue a ruling on the government’s request. A three-judge panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to Carter last Monday. The panel voted 2-1 to decline an emergency appeal from the administration. Judge Mark Bennett, a Trump appointee, questioned how the court could issue an injunction inconsistent with state law. He noted that California law allows non-citizens to vote in local elections, though he misspoke on the specific legal nuance in his public comments. The panel saw serious problems with the administration’s push for immediate action.