---
title: "US Justice Department Warns California Over Noncitizen Voters on Electoral Rolls"
url: https://newscentral.site/us-justice-department-warns-california-over-noncitizen-voters/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Politics"
published: 2026-10-14T18:37:37.000Z
updated: 2026-10-14T21:23:28.379Z
id: 38db3f61-969e-42f2-86c0-5625136d1050
source: "NBC News Politics https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/justice-department-threatens-legal-action-california-noncitizens-rcna603536"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/us-justice-department-warns-california-over-noncitizen-voters/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# US Justice Department Warns California Over Noncitizen Voters on Electoral Rolls

The US Justice Department has issued a warning to California over alleged noncitizen voters on its electoral rolls. According to sources, Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter sent letters to state and local officials demanding they review a list of potential noncitizens by Thursday at noon.

The list in question was compiled by the federal government and contains individuals who are believed to be likely noncitizens who received vote-by-mail ballots for the 2026 election. A password-protected thumb drive containing this information was provided to state officials, along with instructions on how to proceed.

McCotter emphasized that allowing noncitizens to participate in elections undermines the democratic process by invalidating votes cast by citizens. He requested that local election officials separate the vote-by-mail ballots of individuals whose citizenship status is uncertain until their status can be verified.

The Justice Department has maintained that the matter is not contentious, as federal law clearly states that only American citizens are entitled to participate in federal elections.

The Justice Department has been scrutinizing voter rolls in several states, including California, over concerns of noncitizen voters participating in federal elections. A recent letter from the department to California's secretary of state has raised eyebrows among election experts.

According to Justin Levitt, a former Justice Department official during the Obama administration and current NBC News contributor, the federal government lacks authority to demand changes to voter rolls at this stage of the election cycle. Federal law prohibits systemic list maintenance within 90 days of a federal election, allowing only individualized updates to be made.

A spokesperson for the department clarified that they are not asking California to alter its voter list but rather sequester ballots related to potential issues with noncitizen voters. This clarification comes as California prepares to send out mail-in ballots to all registered voters in the state, a process that began on October 9.

The Justice Department's warning to California has been met with concern from election officials across several states, who claim they have received federal subpoenas for election records in recent months.

These states include Georgia, Connecticut, Nevada, and Washington state, where officials are bracing themselves for potential challenges to the upcoming midterm elections. Some believe these actions may be a tactic to lay groundwork for post-election disputes.

Election directors in these states have expressed alarm at the sudden interest from federal authorities, with Stuart Holmes of Washington State describing it as an attempt to "lay out some groundwork" for possible legal battles after the election.

Election officials have expressed concerns that the Justice Department's sudden interest in alleged noncitizen voters may be an attempt to lay groundwork for potential legal action against California. This concern is shared by experts who believe the Trump administration is trying to influence voting patterns.

The Justice Department has sought voter registration data from every state, including California, and has brought over 100 cases involving allegations of voting by non-citizens since Trump took office. Experts argue that this effort may be an attempt to sway election outcomes rather than ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.

---
Source: [NBC News Politics](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/justice-department-threatens-legal-action-california-noncitizens-rcna603536)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/us-justice-department-warns-california-over-noncitizen-voters/