9th Circuit Rejects DOJ Bid to Set Aside California Ballots
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a Justice Department request for California to set aside disputed ballots received in the midterm election, citing the lack of a feasible method to do so without potentially catastrophic effects on the…
Tallahassee Thomasville, FL, October 30, 2026 —
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a request from the Justice Department that sought to have California set aside disputed ballots from the midterm election. The court’s decision was based on concerns regarding the feasibility of such an action.
In its ruling, the appellate court cited the significant challenges and potential for severe disruption to the state’s voting system that would arise from attempting to isolate and invalidate specific ballots after they have been received. The Justice Department’s request was based on unspecified issues related to disputed ballots cast during the recent midterm elections.
The 9th Circuit’s reasoning highlighted a lack of a practical methodology to segregate these ballots without causing what the court described as potentially catastrophic effects on the integrity and functionality of California’s electoral processes. The court did not specify which midterm election the ballots were from, nor did it provide further details on the nature of the dispute or the specific ballots in question.
Details regarding the exact number of ballots that were considered disputed, the specific reasons for their disputed status, or the identity of the individuals or entities within the Justice Department who made the request were not immediately available. Similarly, information on any specific timeline or previous legal proceedings that led to this request was not provided in the court’s statement.
The court’s decision underscores the complexities involved in election administration and the judicial reluctance to intervene in ways that could undermine established voting procedures, especially when alternative solutions are not readily apparent or could introduce further complications.
Story summarized from the original created by AP via Scripps News Group on www.wtxl.com, see more information here.
.jpg?branch=production)
