California Governor Newsom wrote today: "Donald Trump is attempting to invalidate 20,000 ballots from California and intimidate election officials. Let me be clear: if you dare interfere with our elections, California will hold you accountable. Not even a presidential pardon would shield you. We are prepared—every eligible ballot will be counted."
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s emergency request to compel California to set aside more than 20,000 mail-in ballots on the grounds that some voters may not be U.S. citizens.
Commentary: Governor Newsom’s firm warning, coupled with the Supreme Court’s rejection of the federal government’s emergency motion, reflects the intensifying battle over vote counting in the midst of a highly contested midterm election cycle. At stake is control over electoral outcomes: California is a Democratic stronghold, and 20,000 ballots could determine the result in key districts. The Trump administration’s push for voter identity verification aims to reduce Democratic voter turnout, while Newsom insists that every valid ballot must be included in the final tally. Legally, election administration remains under state jurisdiction, and federal authorities cannot remove ballots based solely on suspicion. This legal standoff underscores the high stakes of the midterms, as both parties deploy legal challenges and public messaging to gain leverage in the counting process.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880801792246794/
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