DOJ asks Washington to set aside 400 ballots before midterms
Federal prosecutors asked Washington election officials to set aside ballots tied to over 400 people they say may be noncitizens; the state is reviewing it.
The story in focus
ABC News reports the U.S. Justice Department, through Washington state's two federal prosecutors, asked election officials to set aside ballots belonging to more than 400 individuals it says may be noncitizen voters, days before the midterms. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs questioned the timing and said his office is reviewing the request.
- Federal prosecutors in Washington state made the request in a letter released alongside a Monday statement.
- Prosecutors said the more than 400 listed individuals were only part of the total.
- Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said the timing a week before the election was intended to cast unfounded suspicion on results.
- Hobbs said at least one individual on the list dates to 1994.
- The action follows a Justice Department lawsuit against California over more than 20,000 ballots.
What federal prosecutors asked for
ABC News reports that the U.S. Justice Department, acting through Washington state's two U.S. attorneys, sent a letter asking election officials to set aside any ballots belonging to more than 400 individuals the department says may be noncitizen voters. ABC News said it had not seen the letter.
A statement accompanying the letter said the listed individuals represented only part of the total. The request came days before the midterms, part of what ABC News described as the administration's intervention in state-run elections.
State response and prior case
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said the timing, one week before the general election, was intended to cast unfounded suspicion on results. He said his office is reviewing the request to ensure any response complies with state and federal law, and noted at least one listed individual dates to 1994.
The Washington request echoes a Justice Department lawsuit against California over more than 20,000 ballots it claims may belong to noncitizens. ABC News reports a federal appeals court declined to intervene and called the claimed emergency partly self-constructed, and Los Angeles officials said a sampling showed many surveyed people said they were U.S.-born.
What comes next
Washington election officials said they are assessing the information sought. ABC News reports no court order has set aside the ballots; the request is a demand from federal prosecutors, not an enacted rule or judicial ruling.
What did the Justice Department ask Washington state to do?
ABC News reports federal prosecutors asked Washington election officials to set aside ballots belonging to more than 400 people they say may be noncitizen voters. The state said it is reviewing the request.
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