{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/judge-hears-arguments-on-counting-california-ballots-disputed-by-doj","slug":"judge-hears-arguments-on-counting-california-ballots-disputed-by-doj","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/judge-hears-arguments-on-counting-california-ballots-disputed-by-doj","title":"Judge hears arguments on counting California ballots disputed by DOJ","subtitle":"A federal judge is considering whether to allow California to count ballots from 20,000 voters whose citizenship is in question.","excerpt":"A federal judge in Los Angeles heard arguments regarding the Justice Department's request to prevent California from counting approximately 20,000 ballots until the citizenship of the voters can be confirmed. California officials argue this is impossible and could disenfranchise legitimate voters.","category":"Politics","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-10-27T23:45:30.849Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-10-27T22:58:46.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-27T23:45:30.849Z","readTime":"3 min read","scores":{"trust":60,"critic":65,"hype":45,"notes":{"trust":"The central claim is attributed to a named body, and two independent outlets are cited.","critic":"The reporting includes quotes from affected parties and states what happens next.","hype":"The headline is a fair reflection of the article's content."}},"tags":["#ElectionLaw","#VoterIntegrity","#Citizenship","#DepartmentOfJustice","#CaliforniaElections"],"entities":["David O. Carter","Department of Justice","California","Los Angeles County"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["A federal judge in Los Angeles heard arguments on whether the Justice Department can block California from counting about 20,000 ballots until voter citizenship is confirmed.","The Justice Department sued California election officials in mid-October, alleging they missed a deadline to review a list of suspected noncitizens on voter rolls.","California officials contend that separating mailed ballots after they are cast is impossible and that complying with the federal request could disenfranchise eligible voters.","The federal government compiled its list by cross-referencing voter data with third-party, State Department, and Social Security Administration records."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"U.S. District Judge David O. Carter in Los Angeles heard arguments on whether the Department of Justice can prevent California from counting the ballots of approximately 20,000 individuals until their U.S. citizenship is verified. The Justice Department initiated a lawsuit against California election officials in mid-October, asserting that the state failed to meet a deadline to review a list of names suspected of being noncitizens on its voter rolls. California officials countered that once ballots are mailed, they are separated from voter identification, making it impossible to segregate them. They also warned that complying with the federal government's demands could lead to the disenfranchisement of legitimate voters and delay election certification."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement over the federal list's accuracy"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The federal government's methodology for compiling the list involved cross-referencing voter registration data with third-party data, Department of State records, and Social Security Administration records. However, a sample review of 200 records from the federal list conducted by Los Angeles County staff included canceled registrations, individuals with no voting history, and voters whose records indicated they were born in the U.S. Lawyers for California also questioned the government's reliance on a third-party service for Social Security numbers."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the left-rated digests mention the specific details of the federal government's methodology for compiling its list, beyond stating it involved cross-referencing data. The right-rated digest does not detail the arguments made by California officials regarding the impossibility of separating mailed ballots or the potential for disenfranchising legitimate voters."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"Beloit Daily News","url":"https://beloitdailynews.com/news/national-news/judge-weighs-whether-california-can-count-up-to-20-000-ballots-disputed-by-us-government/article_27752a75-a228-5804-8876-6cc541056d1d.html","headline":"Judge weighs whether California can count up to 20,000 ballots disputed by US government","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-27T22:58:46.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Washington Top News","url":"https://wtop.com/national/2026/10/judge-to-consider-whether-california-should-count-20000-ballots-disputed-by-trump-administration","headline":"Judge hears arguments whether California should count 20,000 ballots disputed by US government – WTOP 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