California Blocks 48-Hour Ballot Audit Before Midterms

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has sued the U.S. Department of Justice over its demand for a 48-hour audit of 20,000 ballots, which he claims threatens the right of eligible voters to cast their ballots. The lawsuit follows a federal request made less than two weeks before the midterm elections, asking California officials to verify the ballots within two days. California election personnel have warned that the directive could strip eligible citizens of their right to vote, as many of those named on the list were born in the United States. An appeals court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday, as the legal battle continues.

Bonta accused the Trump administration of politicizing and weaponizing the law in its campaign against alleged noncitizen voting. He said the Department of Justice was acting at the direction of Donald Trump, and he described the request as completely improper. The criticism comes amid a wider Republican push nationally to crack down on alleged voter fraud, particularly among undocumented immigrants.

The justice department framed its request as a way to secure the vote, saying it would help ensure the most secure election in California history. However, California election officials have questioned the evidence behind the list, as they were given only names, with no explanation of why those people were supposedly ineligible.

Governor Gavin Newsom also hit out on social media, calling the department's actions an 'Absolute clown show!' He said the department was so desperate to invent 'widespread voter fraud' that it sent counties lists of people who never voted, as well as voters from the wrong county.