--- title: "DOJ moves to dismiss lawsuit over California ballots" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/doj-moves-to-dismiss-lawsuit-over-california-ballots" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/doj-moves-to-dismiss-lawsuit-over-california-ballots" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/doj-moves-to-dismiss-lawsuit-over-california-ballots.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/doj-moves-to-dismiss-lawsuit-over-california-ballots" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-11-07T01:45:37.376Z" source_reported: "2026-11-07T01:04:54.586Z" updated: "2026-11-07T01:45:37.376Z" trust_score: 48 critic_score: 59 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-07T01:30:12.929004+00:00" --- # DOJ moves to dismiss lawsuit over California ballots *The department sought to halt the counting of 20,000 ballots until noncitizen status could be verified.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 48 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to the AP, and the number of ballots is stated by multiple outlets. - Craft 59 of 100, higher is better. The digests provide a clear account of the event, and the reason for dismissal is mentioned. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used in the digests is factual and avoids sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The U.S. Department of Justice has requested to dismiss a lawsuit it filed against California. - The lawsuit sought to prevent the counting of about 20,000 ballots until noncitizen status could be verified. - The department's request to drop the case was made days after Republicans experienced significant losses in the midterm elections. - The digests do not name specific sources for the DOJ's initial allegations. The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to dismiss its own lawsuit that sought to stop California from counting approximately 20,000 ballots. The department had alleged these ballots were sent to noncitizens and wanted to halt their counting until immigration status could be verified. The request to dismiss the case was filed days after Republicans suffered significant losses in the midterm elections. ## Disagreement on ballot numbers While most digests state the lawsuit aimed to stop the counting of roughly 20,000 ballots, some reports indicate the number could be up to 20,000. The Associated Press, The Seattle Times, KCRA 3, Leader-Telegram, WFTV 9 abc, and KTBS reported the figure as up to 20,000. Other digests, including Rocky Mountain Outlook, Orillia Matters, Thorold Today, Bowen Island Undercurrent, ElliotLakeToday.com, thealbertan.com, CFJC Today Kamloops, The Toronto Star, Bangor Daily News, Winnipeg Free Press, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, stated the number was roughly 20,000. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated reports covered this story. The digests did not mention any specific named sources for the U.S. Department of Justice's initial allegations that ballots had been sent to noncitizens. ## Who covered it Shares of the 23 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 48% (11) - Centre: 52% (12) - Right: 0% (0) 0 of 23 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-07T01:30:12.929004+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-07T02:15:13.603Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports led with the U.S. Department of Justice's move to dismiss its lawsuit concerning California ballots. These reports consistently stated the lawsuit sought to stop the counting of roughly 20,000 ballots alleged to have gone to noncitizens until their immigration status could be verified. Several left-rated digests, including Rocky Mountain Outlook, Orillia Matters, Thorold Today, Bowen Island Undercurrent, ElliotLakeToday.com, thealbertan.com, The Toronto Star, Bangor Daily News, and Winnipeg Free Press, used phrasing similar to the Associated Press, stating the DOJ moved to dismiss its lawsuit on Friday. The Record and The Seattle Times also noted the request to dismiss came days after Republicans' significant losses in the midterm elections. The digests did not mention any specific named sources for the DOJ's initial allegations. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports also focused on the U.S. Department of Justice's decision to dismiss its lawsuit against California regarding ballots. These digests consistently reported that the lawsuit aimed to stop the counting of up to 20,000 ballots suspected of being mailed to noncitizens, pending verification of immigration status. Spectrum Local News and Leader-Telegram noted the request to dismiss came days after Republicans' significant losses in the midterm elections. Leader-Telegram also mentioned the federal government's decision came before a scheduled hearing next week. The digests did not include specific named sources for the DOJ's allegations. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 9 - veryHigh: 14 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Spectrum Local News](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/ca/california/politics/2026/11/07/u-s--justice-department-moves-to-dismiss-its-lawsuit-demanding-california-set-aside-ballots-allegedly-sent-to-noncitizens) — DOJ moves to dismiss its lawsuit demanding California set aside ballots - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/world-news/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots-12991898) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/world-news/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots-12991898) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/world-news/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots-12991898) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [Bowen Island Undercurrent](https://bowenislandundercurrent.com/world-news/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots-12991900) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [ElliotLakeToday.com](https://elliotlaketoday.com/world-news/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots-12991898) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/world-news/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots-12991898) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [KTBS](https://ktbs.com/news/national/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots/article_c3ac3d19-b8e6-58b7-9aa9-1d27b986ed7e.html) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [KCRA 3](https://kcra.com/article/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots/74363222) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/11/06/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/11/06/us-election-2026-california-noncitizen-voting) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots/article_edba9e83-9a07-58c7-a758-e623f1a37c34.html) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-09e1048507008385dae20160786dc490) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [Bangor Daily News](https://bangordailynews.com/2026/11/06/nation/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [Leader-Telegram](https://leadertelegram.com/news/nation-world/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots/article_4d14dcaf-1612-5e86-91b6-5b8cd345cf57.html) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [WFTV 9 abc](https://wftv.com/news/politics/us-justice/H5IS23ZETY5JJMKKTUUQMKMTOU) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/us-justice-department-moves-to-dismiss-its-lawsuit-demanding-california-set-aside-ballots-allegedly-sent-to-noncitizens) — US Justice Department moves to dismiss its lawsuit demanding Californi - [Ottumwa Courier](https://ottumwacourier.com/news/national_news/us-justice-department-moves-to-dismiss-its-lawsuit-demanding-california-set-aside-ballots-allegedly-sent/article_a8cb25ca-919a-578d-bc47-558cc6affcf4.html) — US Justice Department moves to dismiss its lawsuit demanding California set aside ballots allegedly sent to noncitizens - [Richmond Register](https://richmondregister.com/ap/national/us-justice-department-moves-to-dismiss-its-lawsuit-demanding-california-set-aside-ballots-allegedly-sent/article_c7ba4252-05f4-5008-bda5-3315ac0b6b2d.html) — US Justice Department moves to dismiss its lawsuit demanding California set aside ballots allegedly sent to noncitizens - [Santa Maria Times](https://santamariatimes.com/ap/national/us-justice-department-moves-to-dismiss-its-lawsuit-demanding-california-set-aside-ballots-allegedly-sent/article_1fbf7429-cdab-5a14-8da9-d2c2e026e176.html) — US Justice Department moves to dismiss its lawsuit demanding California set aside ballots allegedly sent to noncitizens - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/11/06/us-justice-department-drops-bid-to-force-california-to-set-aside-disputed-ballots) — US Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots - [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](https://post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2026/11/06/us-justice-department-california-disputed-ballots-newsom-trump/stories/202611060072) — U.S. Justice Department drops bid to force California to set aside disputed ballots ## Questions **What was the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit against California about?** The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit seeking to stop California from counting approximately 20,000 ballots. The department alleged these ballots were sent to noncitizens and wanted to verify their immigration status before they could be counted. **Why did the DOJ ask to dismiss the lawsuit?** The Department of Justice requested to dismiss its lawsuit days after Republicans experienced significant losses in the midterm elections. The specific reasons for the dismissal request were not detailed in the provided digests. **How many ballots were in question?** The digests provided slightly different figures for the number of ballots in question. Most stated roughly 20,000 ballots, while some indicated the number could be up to 20,000. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/doj-moves-to-dismiss-lawsuit-over-california-ballots. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "DOJ moves to dismiss lawsuit over California ballots", https://mediabias.news/politics/doj-moves-to-dismiss-lawsuit-over-california-ballots