Los Angeles election officials have no independent method for confirming voters’ US citizenship beyond accepting their attestations, according to the Central District of California’s top federal prosecutor.
Bill Essayli, the district’s first assistant US attorney, sharply criticized California’s election safeguards, warning that eligible Americans’ votes “are being diluted” as state officials decline to set aside ballots linked to people flagged by federal authorities.
“Los Angeles election officials just told a federal court they have no independent way to verify citizenship beyond what voters attest. (They simply take their word for it.),” Essayli wrote on X, sharing highlighted passages from the Justice Department’s lawsuit against California concerning suspected noncitizens on its voter rolls.
“Under federal law, only citizens may vote in federal elections. Yet California has not acted on the list of 20,000 suspected noncitizens or agreed to set aside their ballots. American citizens’ votes are being diluted in California.”
Essayli’s criticism comes as the Justice Department intensifies its dispute with California over election integrity. On Monday, federal officials announced charges against 28 noncitizens accused of election crimes in the state.
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The federal government has also asked a court to block California from counting ballots submitted by people on the voter rolls whom officials identify as “likely noncitizens.” California has sought information about how the individuals were identified, but federal authorities have not provided the requested details.
Essayli said California has still not acted on the list of 20,000 suspected noncitizens or agreed to set aside ballots associated with them.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office quickly rejected the prosecutor’s criticism, saying California follows federal requirements governing voter registration.
“California adheres to Federal Law passed by Congress in the 1990s [see 52 U.S.C. 20504(c)(2) (Section 5 of the NVRA)]” Newsom’s press office wrote on X in response to Essayli.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter delivered an equally forceful warning Monday while announcing the 28 charges, signaling that the Justice Department plans to continue pursuing the matter.
“This Department of Justice will not look the other way while noncitizens vote in federal elections,” McCotter said. “Unfortunately the same can’t be said for California and LA County.”
