Supreme Court Blocks Justice Department in California Ballot Fight
Justices denied the DOJ's request to halt processing for thousands of voters flagged as likely noncitizens, clearing a path for California to count those ballots as polls open.
By Mariam Saleh ·
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Department of Justice's final effort to intervene in a dispute with California over voter rolls. The high court denied the DOJ's motion to stop the state from processing ballots for thousands of individuals identified as likely noncitizens.
The legal standoff intensified in the days leading up to the 2026 midterm elections. The Justice Department sought an emergency halt to prevent California from counting votes cast by these specific registrants. The court's decision allows the state to proceed with its standard counting procedures for the flagged ballots.
This judicial ruling arrived as voters prepared to cast ballots in an election described as the most expensive in U.S. history. A record number of lawmakers are retiring, which opens seats and increases the likelihood that Democrats could regain control of the House of Representatives.
President Donald Trump's approval rating sits at a historic low ahead of the vote. His administration has faced criticism regarding economic policies, the war in Iran, and rising gas prices. Trump told supporters yesterday that if a portion of his base voted, they could achieve a landslide victory, though he acknowledged the challenges ahead in his remarks.
The White House team plans to closely monitor Republican turnout in key Senate races. Polls in states such as Ohio, Kansas, and South Carolina will close before many other jurisdictions. A strong turnout in these early-closing states could alleviate concerns about a tough night for the party. Conversely, close results in South Carolina or Florida would signal a difficult evening for Republicans.
In the Clancy case, Plymouth Superior Court Judge William Sullivan is weighing a motion to dismiss. The judge will announce his decision later this month. Lindsay Clancy faces first-degree murder charges for the 2023 deaths of her three young children in their Duxbury, Massachusetts home. The previous trial ended in a mistrial in September when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.
Clancy's attorney requested that the judge either dismiss the case or start a new trial during a hearing yesterday. The Plymouth County district attorney's office has not yet stated whether it will seek a new trial or pursue lesser charges. Prosecutors wrote in a recent motion that they aim to pursue justice for Clancy's children.
