MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County has rejected a U.S. Department of Justice request to set aside ballots from 48 voters whose citizenship status federal officials have questioned.
County officials said a preliminary review found the federal list unreliable and raised concerns that complying with the could violate voter privacy and voting rights, according to a Tuesday news release.
"We take the accuracy of the voter roll seriously, but questions about eligibility must be supported by reliable information and handled according to law," Registrar of Voters Natalie Adona said in the release.
The decision comes ahead of the Nov. 3 election, as federal authorities seek to identify suspected noncitizens on California voter rolls. Marin County has not established that the 48 voters are ineligible.
Department of Homeland Security agents delivered the Justice Department's letter Friday, along with a voter list and two court declarations from federal employees.
Federal officials asked the county to identify suspected noncitizens and separate any ballots they submitted until their citizenship status could be determined.
After reviewing the request and applicable laws, Marin County concluded that complying would likely conflict with protections for lawfully registered voters.
The county's decision comes amid a broader federal dispute over approximately 20,000 California voters whose citizenship status the Justice Department has questioned.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter rejected the Justice Department's request for an emergency order requiring California to separate ballots from those voters, citing concerns about disrupting the election and disenfranchising eligible voters.
Marin County's Elections Department said it will continue administering the election under applicable law.
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