Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield is at the forefront of a 20‑jurisdiction coalition that filed a brief on Tuesday urging the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reject a Department of Justice (DOJ) request to set aside roughly 20,000 mail‑in ballots in California.
Coalition of State Leaders Push Back on Federal Intervention
The coalition, co‑led by Rayfield and New York Attorney General Letitia James, argues that the Constitution assigns election administration to the states, not the federal government. Their brief points out that federal law expressly prohibits states from systematically removing voters from the rolls within 90 days of an election, and that altering election rules while voting is underway threatens eligible voters based on unverified records.
Rayfield emphasized the long‑standing tradition of state‑run elections, saying, “States have successfully run elections for 250 years. Now the Trump administration is trying to insert itself into the process and cast doubt on the integrity of elections—without any proof.” He added that standing with California is “standing up for the right of every state, including Oregon, to run elections voters can trust.”
DOJ’s Request and Judicial Response
The DOJ asked courts to require California to set aside ballots from individuals appearing on a federal list of non‑citizens, despite providing no evidence to substantiate the claim. A federal district judge denied the request on Wednesday, prompting the DOJ to appeal to the 9th Circuit.
Past attempts to share similar federal voter lists with other states have been shown to contain errors, underscoring the coalition’s concern that the DOJ’s action could disenfranchise legitimate voters.
Broad Support Across the Country
Joining Rayfield and James in the brief are attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Prior to the district court ruling, Oregon and 21 other states had filed a similar brief supporting California.
The coalition’s filing also notes that the Constitution and existing federal statutes protect states’ authority over voter rolls and election procedures, and that courts have consistently upheld these principles.
Implications for Voters
Rayfield addressed voter concerns, assuring that the coalition’s legal effort aims to ensure every eligible vote is counted. “For eligible voters who are concerned that their votes won’t be counted because of the federal government’s actions, know that we’re fighting in court to make sure every vote is counted,” he said.
The DOJ is seeking an emergency ruling from the 9th Circuit while mail‑in voting continues in California.
What This Means for Oregon
While the case centers on California, the outcome could set a precedent affecting how all states manage elections during ongoing voting periods. Oregon’s participation signals a broader commitment among state leaders to protect election integrity and uphold the constitutional balance of power.
As the legal battle moves forward, Oregon voters can take comfort in knowing their attorney general is actively defending the principle that states, not the federal government, should control the ballot‑counting process.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
