Shasta County Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis announced today that he will not follow the Trump administration’s statewide directive to separate roughly 20,000 ballots belonging to individuals the administration believes are likely noncitizens. Curtis cited the recent federal ruling that halted the administration’s effort.

Federal court blocks Trump administration’s ballot‑segregation request

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter issued a decision rejecting the administration’s lawsuit, warning that the request would create chaos in an election already under way and would disenfranchise U.S. citizens. “Never before in American history has the federal government, on the eve of an election, sought to coerce a state and local government to abandon their own Constitutional election procedures and bend to the will of the Executive Branch,” the judge wrote.

Trump administration’s rationale

The Justice Department argues that safeguarding the integrity of elections requires identifying and separating ballots that may belong to illegal immigrants. In a sworn declaration filed on Oct. 26, the administration explained that it can flag and segregate “the ballots of likely noncitizens” while verifying citizenship, asserting that the process is feasible and not catastrophic.

Administration officials contend that illegal voting undermines public confidence and that a targeted approach is necessary to prevent noncitizen participation, especially in a state as large as California.

Local resistance and past actions

Curtis, appointed by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors in April 2025, has already made significant changes to the county’s election infrastructure, including removing most drop boxes and eliminating electronic poll books. He told reporters he received a list of about 30 names from the Justice Department but will not segregate those ballots because the administration’s legal effort has not succeeded.

While Curtis maintains that “locating and segregating challenged ballots is entirely possible and not catastrophic,” other election officials across California have disputed that claim, saying the task would be infeasible and could disenfranchise legitimate voters.

Broader context

The Trump administration’s lawsuit is part of a national push to uncover instances of illegal voting by noncitizens and to hold California accountable ahead of the midterm elections. Although the administration asserts there is no reputable evidence of widespread illegal voting, it argues that even isolated cases merit scrutiny.

Civil‑rights groups and many state and local officials have warned that the administration’s list, derived from public voter‑roll data and government databases, may be inaccurate and could put lawful voters at risk of being wrongly denied their vote.

What’s next?

The Justice Department has filed an appeal of Judge Carter’s decision, indicating that the fight over ballot segregation is far from over. Shasta County voters should stay informed about any further legal developments that could affect how their ballots are processed.

Original reporting: Shasta Scout (Redding) — read the source article.