In a letter to Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, the Justice Department on Monday asked the state to set aside any mail ballots that might be cast by more than 400 individuals the department says are not U.S. citizens. The request comes less than two weeks after a similar demand was made of California and reflects the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to safeguard elections from illegal voting.
Federal officials say the list is only a fraction of the problem
Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd, who leads the Seattle office, told reporters that the 405 names identified so far represent “the tip of the iceberg.” He explained that the list was compiled from recent contacts with suspected illegal immigrants and that federal officers are now routinely checking whether people they encounter are registered to vote.
State officials weigh the request
Secretary Hobbs said his office is reviewing the DOJ’s request. The department provided data showing the last time each of the 405 people voted, with one individual’s most recent ballot cast in 1994. Hobbs warned that the timing – a week before the general election – appears designed to cast unfounded suspicion on the results.
Administration’s rationale
The Trump administration argues that even a small number of illegal votes can undermine public confidence in the electoral process. By asking states to verify voter eligibility before counting ballots, the administration says it is protecting the constitutional right of lawful citizens to have their votes counted without fraud.
Critics and context
Critics, including voting‑rights groups such as the Brennan Center for Justice, argue that noncitizen voting is “exceptionally rare” and that the DOJ’s approach could disenfranchise legitimate voters, especially given Washington’s universal mail‑ballot system. The department’s request for personal data – addresses, dates of birth, driver’s‑license numbers and partial Social Security numbers – raises privacy concerns among civil‑liberties advocates.
Broader election landscape
The Washington request marks the third state challenge this month as the Justice Department targets Washington, California and Alaska – all of which have House or Senate races that could affect the balance of power in Congress. In Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, Democrats hope Rep. Maria Gluesenkamp Perez can retain her seat, a race the administration views as pivotal.
Previous findings on illegal voting
Past investigations have shown far fewer illegal voters than the administration has claimed. In Nevada, a DOJ claim of 1,500 potential illegal voters yielded zero confirmed cases after review. In Maricopa County, Arizona, a Republican county attorney found only eight illegal voters out of an initial list of 207.
State response and next steps
Washington officials have noted that recent changes to U.S. Postal Service operations have already caused delays and disenfranchised thousands of legitimate voters. The state has not yet decided whether to comply with the DOJ’s request, but it is expected to provide a response before the November midterm election.
What Washington voters should know
Voters in Washington should remain vigilant about ensuring their registration information is up‑to‑date and that they receive their mail ballots in a timely manner. The state continues to issue mail ballots to all 5 million registered voters, and any changes to ballot handling will be communicated through official channels.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
