Local

DOJ warns California officials of criminal liability in ballot dispute

The Justice Department escalated its voter-list dispute with California and Los Angeles County on Friday, warning election officials about possible criminal liability if they count mail ballots linked to a contested federal list.

Published October 14, 2026 · Updated October 17, 2026

Reuters reported that an October 16 letter from Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter warned officials they could face liability as abettors if they count the disputed ballots. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan were copied on the letter. President Donald Trump separately amplified the warning and threatened lengthy prison terms.

The dispute began with a federal list of more than 20,000 people the administration alleges are likely noncitizens. The Justice Department sued on October 15 after demanding that California and Los Angeles County review the names and separate associated ballots until citizenship could be verified.

California disputes the federal claims

Los Angeles County said the Justice Department had not provided the underlying evidence, source or methodology supporting its assertions. The new federal letter said the list came from internal immigration records and data matching, according to Reuters. Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta have rejected the demand to withhold ballots, warning that rushed action could affect eligible voters.

The complaint and warning contain allegations, not findings, and no court had ruled that the people on the list were ineligible. Reuters noted that noncitizen voting is uncommon and that citizenship checks have sometimes misclassified naturalized citizens.

Official response: Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder — October 15, 2026 →

Official filing announcement: U.S. Department of Justice — October 15, 2026 →

Original reporting: Reuters — October 17, 2026 → · Associated Press — October 15, 2026 → · Reuters — October 15, 2026 →