Late last week, the U.S. Department of Justice sent letters to elections offices across all 58 California counties demanding that local registrars segregate ballots and turn over confidential voter information for individuals alleged to be “likely” noncitizens.
In Plumas County, Clerk-Recorder Marcy DeMartile reported that a man identifying himself as “Special Agent Aaron Rodas” hand-delivered a three-page letter on Friday, Oct. 23. Signed by U.S. Attorney Eric Grant, the letter gave officials 48 hours to provide sensitive data—including Social Security numbers, identification copies, and registration paperwork—for two flagged individuals. It further instructed the office to segregate and hold their ballots until citizenship could be verified.
DeMartile pushed back, confirming that neither flagged individual had submitted a ballot and noting that the DOJ provided no supporting evidence for its claim. Citing state law requiring “extraordinary proof” to challenge a vote-by-mail ballot, she stated that Plumas County “cannot, and will not, take any action to set aside or segregate these ballots should they be submitted,” nor will it release confidential voter data unless legally compelled.
“I want the Plumas County electorate to know that I continue to fight for your constitutionally-given right for your voice to be heard, despite any and all attempts to bully or intimidate this office,” DeMartile said.
Other California counties reported similar experiences. Butte County Clerk-Recorder Keaton Denlay described his county’s list as inaccurate and poorly formatted, with 32 of 45 names not appearing on local voter rolls at all.
The pressure from federal authorities comes amid a broader legal push by the DOJ and DHS to block California from counting around 20,000 ballots statewide. A federal appeals court recently declined to fast-track the DOJ’s lawsuit, sending it back to a lower court as Election Day approaches. Experts maintain that noncitizen voting remains extremely rare.
