California mail ballots appeal case
The gist
A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration's bid to set aside 20,000 California mail ballots.
The ruling leaves the disputed ballots in play a week before midterms decide Congress.
How it unfolded
- Oct 15, 2026The DOJ filed United States v. California in federal district court, asking a judge to order the state to set aside ballots of flagged voters and verify citizenship before counting.
- Oct 21, 2026Judge David O. Carter received the case and set the DOJ's request for a temporary restraining order for argument on October 27.
- Oct 22, 2026With no ruling by the DOJ's noon deadline, the department appealed to the Ninth Circuit, calling the judge's silence a constructive denial.