The legal system's wheels are turning in Orange County as the Justice Department takes the Registrar of Voters to court. In a move announced Wednesday, the department is suing Registrar Robert Page for allegedly flouting federal laws regarding voter records. Specifically, the case revolves around accusations that Page has failed to disclose records tied to the brushing off of noncitizens from voter rolls, as required by the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
According to a KTLA report, the initiation of this suit follows a complaint suggesting that noncitizens received unsolicited mail-in ballots. "Voting by non-citizens is a federal crime, and states and counties that refuse to disclose all requested voter information are in violation of well-established federal elections laws," stated Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. This recent development adds a new layer to the scrutiny of voter list management in California.
Furthermore, the legal action seems to have stemmed partially from a March 25 executive order by President Donald Trump, aiming to enforce stricter voter registration requirements. While some state attorneys general labeled this move as unconstitutional, a federal judge earlier this month seemingly supported their stance, adding complexity to the issue.
The Justice Department has made it clear that it means business when it comes to upholding electoral integrity. A statement retrieved from the Justice Department's website stressed the criticality of removing non-citizens from voter rolls in order to ensure fair elections. Amid this burgeoning clash, the Orange County Registrar of Voters decided to stay silent on the matter, with a representative stating that they "do not comment on pending or ongoing litigation."
