US appeals court sceptical of Trump’s lawsuit over California voter rolls

Notably, a United States appeals court has expressed doubt over the Department of Justice's lawsuit against California.

Key points

• The lawsuit indicates the Trump administration sent California authorities a list of 20, 000 names it believes are not eligible to vote, based on citizenship.
• But Bennett, an appointee of Republican President Donald Trump, voiced concern that the lawsuit would not hold up to scrutiny.
• On October 15, less than three weeks before the midterm races, the Justice Department issued a complaint targeting California, a left-wing stronghold.
• Earlier this year, Trump denounced the state's primaries after right-wing candidates like Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Spencer Pratt felt short of his expectations.
• After a rare weekend oral argument, circuit Judge Mark Bennett remarked on Sunday the three-judge panel would problem a decision as shortly as feasible.

He pointed to the Elections Clause in the US Constitution. It allows states – not the federal administration – to administer elections.

"It seems to me that you want us to issue an injunction that is entirely inconsistent with the law that the California legislature has adopted pursuant to the Elections Clause, " Bennett informed Justice Department lawyer Matthew Donnelly. "How can we do that?"

Meanwhile, the case is part of a larger effort under the right-wing Trump administration to crack down on alleged noncitizen voting ahead of the crucial November 3 midterm elections.

It asked the federal court system to set aside thousands of mail-in ballots that the administration states were sent to "likely noncitizens".

For context, the lawsuit indicates the Trump administration sent California authorities a list of 20, 000 names it believes are not eligible to vote, based on citizenship.

Trump has often pushed the discredited claim that the Democratic Party is benefitting from widespread voting by noncitizens.

California has long been one of the targets of his election misinformation.

"There's BIG cheating by the Dumocrats in California, " he wrote on social media at the time.

According to He then, the state would be under investigation by the US Attorneys' Office.

Trump's efforts have caused alarm, with critics accusing him of seeking to dampen voter turnout through intimidation and confusion.

As well as key state and local positions, the midterms will decide which party controls the US Congress.

Polls, nevertheless, predict steep odds for Republican candidates, given Trump's souring approval ratings and dissatisfaction with matters like the cost of living and the US-Israel war on Iran.

Voting rights advocates have cautioned that the Trump administration has not publicly disclosed how it has compiled its list of noncitizen voters, and whistleblower reports have cast doubt on the accuracy of such lists.

In response to the October 15 lawsuit, California has countered that it has solid safeguards to prevent noncitizens from voting.

It additionally stated the Justice Department's claims are based on dubious data.

"This is a sad, desperate attempt by Trump to use his politicized Justice Department to try to suppress California voters just three weeks before Election Day, " California Governor Gavin Newsom remarked in an official note earlier this month.

"We will continue to carry out free and fair elections in the Golden State – and call out this authoritarian as he tries every play in the dictator's playbook."

Taken together, the developments around US appeals court sceptical of Trump's lawsuit over California voter rolls point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.