What Happened
A new court filing has cast doubt on the accuracy of the Trump administration's list of 'likely non-citizen' voters in California. The list, which was sent to California in early October, suggested that as many as 20,930 'likely non-citizens' were registered on the state's voter rolls.
The court filing, submitted by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), found that more than 40% of the names on the list were not on California's voter rolls. The analysis, conducted by two data scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), also found that thousands of potentially eligible US citizens were incorrectly identified as ineligible to vote.
What the Evidence Establishes
The evidence establishes that the Trump administration's list of 'likely non-citizen' voters in California was flawed. The analysis found that 8,880 names on the list were not listed anywhere in California's current voter files, a proportion of 42%. Many other names on the list were either confirmed as US citizens or may correspond to US citizens.
The court filing also found that the Trump administration's actions may have endangered the voting rights of eligible citizens. The filing stated that 'demands of election officials under criminal and civil threats, endangers the voting rights of plaintiff CHIRLA's members and clients.'
Where the Accounts Conflict
The Trump administration's claims of non-citizen voting in California have been met with skepticism by critics, including California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom has cited the fact that all 50 states already prohibit non-citizen voting in federal elections and undertake measures to prevent voter fraud, which is considered exceedingly rare.
Other states that have received similar lists of 'likely non-citizen' voters have also found significant errors in the Trump administration's accounting. Nevada, for example, found that none of the names included on that list were non-citizen voters.
Context and Stakes
The controversy over the Trump administration's list of 'likely non-citizen' voters in California comes just days before the midterm elections. The elections will decide which party controls the US Congress, as well as key state and local offices.
Trump has expressed fear that, if his Republican Party loses its majorities in the two chambers of Congress, he could be impeached. The Republican leader has also targeted California in his criticism, accusing the state of 'cheating' in its June 2 primary elections.
What to Watch Next
The court's decision on the Trump administration's lawsuit against California will be closely watched. The lawsuit, which was filed on October 15, calls on California to sequester any ballots sent to those 'likely non-citizens', preventing them from being tallied as part of voting results.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has already rejected the complaint twice, determining it unconstitutional. However, the Trump administration has threatened to continue pursuing the lawsuit through federal court.
Bottom Line
The Trump administration's claims of non-citizen voting in California have been challenged by new evidence, which found significant errors in the administration's list of 'likely non-citizen' voters. The controversy highlights the ongoing debate over voter fraud and election integrity in the US.
The outcome of the court's decision on the Trump administration's lawsuit against California will have significant implications for the midterm elections and the voting rights of eligible citizens. As the elections approach, it is essential to ensure that the voting process is fair, secure, and accessible to all eligible voters.
DECLASSIFIED SOURCE: Al Jazeera - News (via Real-time Signal Upgrade)
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