By Salma El-Sakka
The Justice Department is asking election officials in Washington state to set aside more than 400 ballots it says may belong to noncitizen voters, intervening in a state-run election days before the midterms. Federal prosecutors claimed the individuals on the list represent "only the tip of the iceberg" and sent a letter demanding that any ballots belonging to those individuals be set aside.
Parallel to California Lawsuit
The move echoes a lawsuit filed last week against California, where the Trump administration sued to prevent the counting of more than 20,000 ballots it claims may belong to noncitizen voters. A federal appeals court declined to intervene in that case, saying the "emergency" the Justice Department cited was in part "self-constructed." Los Angeles officials said a sampling of the 20,000 ballots showed a "high percentage" of people who say they were born in the United States.
Washington Officials Question Timing
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs responded skeptically, noting that at least one individual on the Justice Department's list dates back to 1994. Since then, 113.5 million primary and general election ballots have been cast in Washington. Hobbs said the timing of the request — one week before the general election — "is no doubt intended to cast unfounded suspicion on the results." He added that his office is reviewing the request to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
