Newsom warns federal courts about possible seizure of California ballots

what happened

California Governor Gavin Newsom has written to federal courts, warning them to brace for possible moves by the Trump administration to take ballots during the coming midterm elections, Reuters reported. The letter comes as the state fights the administration in court over records it requested in a criminal probe into noncitizen voting.

Newsom, a Democrat, says he fears federal agents could seek search warrants to seize ballots before results are certified, and argues that such warrants would only serve to disrupt the lawful counting of votes. A US appeals court on Friday turned down the administration's request, which could push the dispute toward the Supreme Court. Separately, a federal judge barred the Justice Department from threatening to prosecute California state and local officials who refuse its election demands.

The administration says more than 20,000 noncitizens are registered to vote in California. The state and many experts question that list, and the department has yet to say how many people on it actually cast ballots. California says the figures rest on suspect data and that compliance would risk stripping eligible voters of their rights.

why it matters

Election disputes of this kind rarely move broad markets directly, but a fight over control of ballots before midterms adds political uncertainty for investors watching Washington. A possible Supreme Court involvement would be the key signal to watch.

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