Los Angeles County election officials have formally challenged a list provided by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that identifies 20,000 individuals suspected of being non-citizens. In court filings submitted this Tuesday, local officials stated that the list includes a "high percentage" of people who were born in the United States, casting doubt on the accuracy of the federal data.

The DOJ delivered the list to the Los Angeles County Registrar and the California Secretary of State last week. Along with the names, the department issued a 48-hour deadline, requiring local officials to segregate ballots cast by anyone on the list unless their citizenship status could be verified within that timeframe.

Election officials argue that the inclusion of U.S.-born citizens on a list intended to flag non-citizens demonstrates a significant error in the federal government's vetting process. The dispute highlights a growing tension between federal election oversight efforts and local election administration. While the DOJ maintains that the list is a necessary tool for ensuring election integrity, local officials contend that the short turnaround time and the high rate of false positives make the mandate difficult to implement without potentially disenfranchising eligible voters. The court filings serve as the first official response from the county regarding the feasibility and accuracy of the federal request.