The US appeals court rejects the Trump administration's attempt to seize 20,000 ballots in California, according to the US Department of Justice, the ballots may have been sent to suspects who are not US citizens. The decision was taken by a two to one majority. The court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal because the federal district court had not yet ruled on the Justice Department's request. The court's opinion stated that the state of emergency that the government invoked was "at least partly of its own making". The justices also issued separate opinions explaining their doubts about the legality of the Trump administration's demands. Judge Bennett said that even if he had had jurisdiction, he would have denied the Justice Department's request because it could have disenfranchised legitimate voters and jeopardized the counting process. Judge Sanchez noted that the requirement to change the rules for processing ballots during an election already underway could cause widespread confusion among voters and election officials. Justice Bombay, however, said the federal government had the right to intervene to protect the integrity of the election. “The question is: Does the federal government have the authority to stop this potential attack on the integrity of our elections? Under both federal law and the Constitution, the answer must be affirmative," the judge wrote. The legal dispute began in October when the Justice Department sent California authorities a list of more than 20,000 registered voters the Trump administration believed to be non-US citizens. The department demanded to verify their citizenship within 48 hours, cancel the ballots of those whose status cannot be confirmed and not count until the end of the verification.

The US appeals court rejects the Trump administration's attempt to seize 20,000 ballots in California, according to the US Department of Justice, the ballots may have been sent to suspects who are not US citizens. The decision was taken by a two to one majority. The court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal because the federal district court had not yet ruled on the Justice Department's request. The court's opinion stated that the state of emergency that the government invoked was "at least partly of its own making". The justices also issued separate opinions explaining their doubts about the legality of the Trump administration's demands. Judge Bennett said that even if he had had jurisdiction, he would have denied the Justice Department's request because it could have disenfranchised legitimate voters and jeopardized the counting process. Judge Sanchez noted that the requirement to change the rules for processing ballots during an election already underway could cause widespread confusion among voters and election officials. Justice Bombay, however, said the federal government had the right to intervene to protect the integrity of the election. “The question is: Does the federal government have the authority to stop this potential attack on the integrity of our elections? Under both federal law and the Constitution, the answer must be affirmative," the judge wrote. The legal dispute began in October when the Justice Department sent California authorities a list of more than 20,000 registered voters the Trump administration believed to be non-US citizens. The department demanded to verify their citizenship within 48 hours, cancel the ballots of those whose status cannot be confirmed and not count until the end of the verification.