The U.S. Attorney for California’s Central District is pushing for a federal audit of the state’s voter registration system after California officials blocked access to election records.
Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, said his office requested access to California’s statewide voter database to assess compliance with federal election laws. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division sent a formal letter to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber in August requesting copies of voter registration applications filed between December 2023 and July 2025.
The Federal Request
Federal officials sought to evaluate whether California complies with maintenance requirements under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, according to the letter posted by Essayli. The Department of Justice argued that the attorney general has independent authority under federal law to examine voter registration systems and obtain election records.
California declined to provide the records, citing state privacy protections that officials said supersede federal access requests. Essayli contended that federal election laws override California’s privacy restrictions on voter data.
Concerns Raised
Essayli highlighted several state policies for review, including California’s acceptance of alternative identification for first-time voters. “Acceptable forms include gym membership cards, employer identification cards, credit or debit cards, prescription drug labels, and insurance cards,” Essayli wrote in a post on X, adding “This is permitted when a voter fails to provide a Social Security number or driver’s license at registration.”
The federal prosecutor also raised questions about voter roll maintenance. “We have serious concerns about how California maintains its voter rolls. There are open questions about whether the state is promptly removing deceased voters, people who have moved, and individuals convicted of disqualifying felonies,” Essayli stated.
Ballot harvesting practices also drew scrutiny. Essayli noted that California allows third parties to collect and submit ballots on voters’ behalf with minimal restrictions, making it difficult to track ballot chain of custody.
Legal Status
The case is currently before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, according to Essayli. The outcome could determine whether federal authorities gain access to California’s voter registration database for the compliance review.
This story has been updated. CNN’s National Desk contributed to this report.
