US appeals court rejects bid to block counting of more than 20,000 mail-in ballots in California The Justice Department has argued the ballots may belong to noncitizens, and the administration says its request is designed to prevent noncitizens from voting. The court expressed concern about the validity of the data cited by the government and the possibility of disenfranchising those with the right to vote. California officials called the request to interfere with the state's jurisdiction.