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The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Orange County Chief Election Officer’s Officer, accusing him of refusing to take over key voter registration records related to non-citizens.
On Wednesday, the DOJ announced a civil lawsuit against the Orange County Registrar for Bob Page, Orange County voter, claiming it failed to provide unedited information about noncitizens who have been removed from the county voter role or attempted to register. The federal complaint alleges that this violates the America Vote Act (HAVA), a 2002 law designed to modernize and ensure the country’s election system.
According to the DOJ, the conflict is concentrated on access to five years of data, including voter registrations that were cancelled due to failure to meet citizenship requirements. Orange County responded to DOJ’s request, but the department said the registrar compiled important details and warned of potential litigation if more data was requested.
The Registrar’s office cited California law as a reason to withhold certain information and proposed a compromise to avoid legal action. The efforts failed, and the DOJ proceeded with the lawsuit.
The issue caught the attention last year when Huntington Beach City lawyer Michael Gates posted online about a non-citizen who was reportedly receiving votes by mail. Gates currently serves as a US lawyer and is one of the officials leading the lawsuit.
“Voting by non-citizens is a federal crime and states and counties that refuse to disclose all voter information requested are in violation of established federal election laws,” Attorney General Judge Hermet K. Dillon said in a statement. She emphasized that accurate voter roles are essential to maintaining election integrity.
The lawsuit also prompted a more stringent voter registration requirement, including proof of citizenship, in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order earlier this year. The order now faces legal challenges from several states, including California.
KTLA reached out to Registrar Bob Page for comment, but his office refused to speak, citing the pending lawsuit.
The lawsuit illustrates a significant conflict between federal oversight and California’s election law, which could set precedents for states having to comply with federal requests relating to voter integrity.
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