U.S.TOP STORY

Feds sue to stop California counting 20,000 ballots

California would have to verify those roughly twenty thousand voters are valid before counting their ballots, under the Justice Department's request; a judge now decides whether to order it.

On air: Hank Ledger, Gloria Vance and Dale Bearman on BBN Newsroom
Published 3:45 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

Photo: Christian Mehlführer, User:Chmehl · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger, Gloria Vance and Dale Bearman on this story, from BBN Newsroom at 3:45 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Washington Times's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Christian Mehlführer, User:Chmehl · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

Photo: California — Photo: Christian Mehlführer, User:Chmehl · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by The Washington Times: “Feds sue to stop California from counting ballots of 20,000 suspected noncitizens”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 3:45 PM ET on BBN Newsroom, by Hank Ledger, Gloria Vance and Dale Bearman.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The Washington TimesFeds sue to stop California from counting ballots of 20,000 suspected noncitizens

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Justice Department sued California today to stop it from counting about twenty thousand ballots from people the feds believe are noncitizens.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe suit asks a judge to bar the count unless California first verifies those voters are valid. The Washington Times calls the filing groundbreaking.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorTwenty thousand ballots, and a judge deciding which ones are real. I'm just here for the paperwork.

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