DOJ demands California counties verify citizenship of 670 voters

The Trump administration’s Department of Justice has demanded that Fresno County elections officials identify non-citizens on voter rolls within 48 hours, a move that marks the latest escalation in federal efforts to scrutinize the ongoing midterm elections. The letter, signed by U.S. Attorney Eric Grant, was delivered to Fresno County Registrar of Voters James Kus on Friday morning and includes a list of 670 registered voters suspected of not being U.S. citizens.

Federal officials require the county to provide personal information, including Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses, for each individual on the list and to segregate their ballots until citizenship is confirmed. The letter warns that election officials who do not cooperate may face criminal prosecution for aiding and abetting a federal crime, a threat that has prompted pushback from local leaders who cite existing state laws for verifying voter eligibility.

Every California county elections official has received similar letters, according to The New York Times. While Los Angeles County has already declined to share voter information, calling the federal demand a posture of intimidation, Fresno County has not yet publicly stated whether it will comply. The DOJ recently announced charges against 28 non-citizens who allegedly voted in recent elections, three of whom reside in Fresno County.

Read the full story at fresnoland.org.