US justice department sues California over alleged noncitizen voting

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Justice Department sued California on Thursday, asking a court to stop the state from tabulating certain ballots in the midterm elections.

2. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOkay, that's a big one for a Thursday afternoon. Walk me through it like I just woke up from a nap in a food court.

3. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe one-sentence version: the federal government says California may be counting ballots from noncitizens, and California's officials say the demand behind that claim doesn't hold up.

4. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo what actually happened first?

5. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAccording to The Guardian, the department sent a demand on Tuesday.

6. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIt wanted Los Angeles County to confirm the citizenship of people on a list stored on a thumb drive.

7. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA thumb drive.

8. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorYes. The county refused, and two days after the demand the department filed the lawsuit.

9. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWow, that's fast. Is that normal? Usually my county takes two days to answer a parking ticket email.

10. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTwo days is quick for a federal lawsuit.

11. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Guardian called the department's demand specious, and that word is the paper's own framing, not a court's finding.

12. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorFair. What's the background? Has this fight been brewing?

13. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNoncitizen voting claims have been a recurring argument in American politics.

14. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBeyond what's in the story, I can't tell you the details of this particular list.

15. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo who does this touch?

16. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorPossibly every California voter whose ballot is in the pile, plus county election workers, who now have a federal lawsuit sitting next to their ballot counting.

17. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd the two sides? Give me the best case for each.

18. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe department's side is that the government has a duty to make sure only citizens vote.

19. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorCalifornia's officials say the request was not valid and refused it.

20. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBoth sides love a clean count. They just disagree on who gets to hold the calculator.

21. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA court will hold it now. A judge decides whether to grant the order the department wants.

22. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhat should people watch for next?

23. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWhether a judge acts quickly, and whether California's response disputes the list itself. It's not clear yet when a ruling comes.

24. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBallots first, thumb drive second.

25. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo, the version for someone who's now caught up: the federal government sued California to stop certain ballots being counted, over a list the county would not confirm.

26. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd a whole election fight is sitting on a gadget I once found in a couch.

27. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIt's the one party in this case everybody trusts, and nobody has the password.