Federal Court Denies Justice Department Request to Set Aside Los Angeles County Ballots

A federal court has denied the U.S. Department of Justice's emergency request to set aside ballots cast by Los Angeles County residents based on unverified claims of voter ineligibility, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office announced on October 28. The ruling, by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, allows the county to continue administering the November 3 general election under its established state and federal procedures.

In the ruling, as quoted in the county's release, the court stated: "This Court will not deprive Californians who have met the requirements for voter registration of their fundamental right because of Plaintiff's unfounded allegations." The court also identified legal concerns with the requested relief under the National Voter Registration Act, the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act, according to the release.

"Our office takes voter eligibility seriously, and any credible evidence of unlawful voting warrants appropriate review. But claims of unlawful voting must be supported by verifiable evidence, not assumptions," Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan said in the release. Voting continues across the county in the meantime: all 646 vote centers are open, completed vote-by-mail ballots can be returned at any vote center or at any of the county's 429 official ballot drop boxes, and on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.