The Trump administration on Friday withdrew its lawsuit that attempted to block California from counting mail-in ballots from more than 20,000 registered voters whom federal officials alleged were probably non-US citizens.
The justice department filed a notice of voluntary dismissal in the case after the midterm elections that saw the Democrats win by comfortable margins in all of California’s statewide contests and most of its congressional races.
On Monday, the day before the election, the Supreme Court rejected a bid to temporarily block California from counting the ballots on the justice department’s list.
The department had argued in previous filings that it needed quick action from federal courts because the contested ballots could not be separated from all other votes once they were accepted. The department again pointed to that reasoning in Friday’s notice of dismissal, writing that “the relief the US sought is no longer available” now that votes have been tallied.
US district judge David Carter had appeared sceptical of the department’s lawsuit, expressing concerns that the request could disenfranchise and confuse legitimate voters, calling it a “monumental change” to election procedures when voting was already under way.
Reuters
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