Justice Department Warns California Officials Over Ballot Processing

Wilkes Barre Scranton Hazleton, PA, October 16, 2026 —

The U.S. Justice Department has warned California officials that they could face criminal prosecution if they process ballots from individuals suspected of being noncitizens, according to the information provided about the warning.

The summary does not identify which California officials received the warning, when it was issued, or how it was communicated. It also does not specify which ballots or election processes are involved, what legal provisions the department cited, or whether any ballots have been processed under the circumstances described.

The warning concerns ballots associated with people suspected of being noncitizens. The available information does not say how suspicion would be determined, whether the individuals’ citizenship had been verified, or what procedures officials are expected to follow. It does not describe any particular person or case.

No response from California officials is included in the summary, and it does not say whether state officials have changed or plan to change their ballot-processing procedures. The Justice Department’s stated position is limited, in the information provided, to the prospect of criminal prosecution if officials process ballots from individuals suspected of being noncitizens.

Further details about the warning, the officials involved, the legal basis cited and any resulting actions were not provided. Without that information, the scope and practical effect of the warning cannot be established from the summary alone.

Story summarized from the original created by ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press on www.2822news.com, see more information here.

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