Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general opposing a federal lawsuit against California concerning the eligibility of more than 20,000 voters ahead of the November midterm elections.
The lawsuit, United States v. California, seeks to prevent California election officials from counting ballots cast by individuals the Trump administration has identified as likely noncitizens. According to the coalition, the federal government has not provided sufficient evidence establishing that those individuals are ineligible to vote.
In a legal brief supporting California, the attorneys general argue that states have constitutional authority to administer elections in accordance with federal law and that the administration’s lawsuit could result in eligible voters having their ballots excluded. The coalition also argues that the lawsuit exceeds the federal executive branch’s authority over state election procedures.
“The Trump Administration’s attempt to set aside thousands of California ballots based on questionable evidence is a reckless assault on our democracy that could silence lawful voters’ voices,” Brown said.
The coalition maintains that existing federal and state laws already establish procedures for maintaining voter registration lists and addressing voter fraud. The attorneys general argue that the lawsuit seeks to impose additional requirements outside those established by Congress. The filing includes attorneys general from 21 states and the District of Columbia, including neighboring Virginia.
