Trump Administration Asks Washington State to Set Aside Ballots of 400 Suspected Noncitizen Voters
The Trump administration has asked Washington state to set aside ballots cast by more than 400 people. Officials suspect these voters may have registered without US citizenship. The ballots would be held until their eligibility can be checked.
The request was made public this week. It marks the latest step in a wider federal push to look for possible noncitizen voters before the November 3 midterm elections.
What the Justice Department Says
The Justice Department said it had identified about 1,500 votes cast by this group in earlier elections. That number covers past ballots, not just the current ones. Federal officials say the goal is to make sure only eligible citizens take part in elections.
Under the plan, the state would keep the disputed ballots separate. They would not be counted, or would be set aside, until officials confirm whether each voter is legally allowed to vote. The request does not say the voters broke the law. It only says their status needs to be checked.
Why This Matters
Voting by noncitizens is already illegal in federal and state elections. Studies over the years have found that it is rare. Still, the administration argues that even a small number of cases should be reviewed.
Critics see the move differently. They say the lists may contain errors, such as people who became citizens but were never removed from old records. They also warn that flagging voters by name can cause confusion and may discourage legal voters from going to the polls.
There is another concern. Ballots are usually counted soon after Election Day. If a ballot is set aside, the voter may not learn about it in time to fix the problem. In close races, even a few hundred disputed ballots can matter.
Similar Fights in California
The Washington request is not an isolated case. Similar legal disputes are playing out in California. There, federal officials have also tried to identify possible noncitizen voters ahead of the midterms. Those efforts have led to court fights over access to voter records and over how such checks should be done.
The pattern suggests a broader strategy. The Justice Department appears to be pressing states to share data and to review voter rolls. Some states have pushed back, saying the federal government is overstepping and that state officials are best placed to run their own elections.
What Happens Next
Washington state officials have not yet said whether they will agree to the request. If they refuse, the dispute could end up in court. That would add to the growing set of legal battles over voter eligibility before November.
For investors and the public, the story is a reminder that election rules can shift late in a campaign. Legal challenges over ballots and voter lists can delay results and raise uncertainty. The key question now is whether the state will set the ballots aside, and how quickly any review can be completed before the votes are certified.
