Appeals Court Denies Trump Administration Bid to Segregate California Ballots

A federal appeals court has rejected an emergency request from the Trump administration that sought to force California election officials to set aside approximately 20,000 mail-in ballots. In a 2-1 decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to intervene, stating that the Justice Department had attempted to circumvent the standard judicial process by rushing to the appellate level before a district court could issue a ruling.

The Justice Department had argued that the ballots in question were cast by individuals it identified as likely noncitizens, and it requested that these votes be sequestered to ensure election integrity. Federal officials had pushed for an immediate order to segregate these ballots, citing concerns about voter eligibility as the midterm elections approach.

However, the appellate panel determined that it lacked the necessary jurisdiction to grant the emergency motion at this stage of the litigation. The judges emphasized that the district court overseeing the case had not yet been given adequate time to consider the request for a temporary restraining order, noting that a hearing on the matter was already scheduled for the following day.

By dismissing the motion as moot, the court effectively maintained the status quo for California’s current ballot-handling procedures. The legal battle is now expected to continue in the lower court, where a judge will weigh the merits of the government's claims regarding the voter rolls. This ruling marks a significant procedural setback for the administration's efforts to challenge state-level voting practices just days before the election.