California voter fraud fight sparks all-out war as state blocks federal demand: ‘What are they afraid of?’
California is refusing to comply with a federal demand for a voter roll audit, with U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli criticizing the state’s ID requirements for first-time voters and questioning voter maintenance practices. The dispute, now in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, stems from a DOJ request for voter registration records to assess compliance with federal election laws, which California has blocked under privacy restrictions.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is locked in a legal battle with California over access to the state’s voter registration records, as federal officials accuse California of obstructing an independent audit. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, overseeing the case in Los Angeles, criticized California’s voter ID policies, which allow first-time voters to register using unconventional forms like health club membership cards, employee IDs, or prescription drug labels—provided they lack a driver’s license, state ID, or Social Security number. Essayli also raised concerns about the state’s handling of deceased voters, felony disenfranchisement, and ballot harvesting practices, which he said lack sufficient oversight. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division first requested California’s voter registration list in August 2025, citing authority under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act. In a letter, then-Deputy Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhilon argued that federal law preempts California’s privacy restrictions, demanding full access to the state’s voter records, including all registration applications submitted between December 1, 2023, and July 1, 2025. California has refused, citing state privacy laws, and the dispute is now before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Essayli’s criticism escalated after a surge in late votes for Democratic candidates in Los Angeles, which he suggested warranted closer scrutiny. He questioned whether California’s voter rolls accurately reflect eligible voters, noting the state’s reliance on third-party ballot collection with minimal restrictions. ‘If California genuinely wants voters to trust its elections, it should open its records, not fight to keep them closed,’ Essayli wrote on X, adding that the state’s resistance raises questions about transparency. The federal government has sought the records for over a year to evaluate compliance with federal election laws, arguing that California’s refusal undermines the DOJ’s ability to conduct an independent review. The state maintains that voters must provide a California driver’s license, state ID, or the last four digits of a Social Security number, though officials assign a unique identifier if those details are unavailable. The legal battle highlights growing tensions between federal oversight and state election policies, particularly in high-stakes races.
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