DOJ Presses Charges Against Orange County: Another Failure of the Biden-Harris Administration
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been compelled to take legal action against Orange County, California. The grounds? It is alleged that the state has been reluctant to produce comprehensive evidence that confirms their supposed efforts at purging noncitizens from their electoral rolls. A lawsuit was filed on Wednesday targeting Robert Page, who functions as the Orange County Registrar of Voters. Page is accused of disregarding the DOJ’s directives to present records on the expulsion of noncitizens from the national voter registration list.
Robert Page stands accused of breaching the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). This alleged violation stems from his failure to ensure a precise and accurate voter list. Voting by non-citizens is a federal offense, and regions that assertively refuse to reveal all solicited voter data are in breach of deeply entrenched federal election laws. Expunging non-citizens from the state’s electoral rolls is crucial in reinforcing that California’s voter logs are precise and that California’s elections are free from illicit voting activity.
The DOJ is unambiguous in its stance – regions that fail to comply with federal voting regulations will face legal consequences. A lawsuit was instigated following a complaint by a relative of a noncitizen in Orange County. This individual allegedly received an unrequested mail-in ballot. The DOJ sought information on the number of voter registration records in Orange County that were rescinded since January 2020 on the grounds of citizenship requirements, together with corresponding details regarding each cancellation.
The DOJ’s assertive stance hit a significant hurdle, however. Allegedly, Page’s office masked vital details, such as state driver’s license numbers and ID card numbers, along with Social Security numbers. The DOJ argues that these undisclosed details make it challenging for them to genuinely ascertain if Orange County is indeed purging non-citizens from their electoral rolls, which would have them operating in compliance with HAVA.
Page was subsequently cautioned by the DOJ, which made it clear that he had a deadline of June 20 to deliver the un-expurgated information. Should he fail, a lawsuit would be the inevitable result. On June 23, Page’s representation informed their office that he wouldn’t be complying with the DOJ’s directives.
The conflict essence is whether Page has the legal right to leverage California law to withhold certain private information from the DOJ. Federal prosecutors argue that federal law takes precedence over state law, hence Page’s obligation to comply with their request.
Orange County, home to an excess of three million residents, serves as a significant swing county in a state otherwise predominantly in favor of Democratic politics. The local voters displayed a driven opposition to now Vice President Kamala Harris by selecting President Donald Trump by a surprisingly narrow margin in the 2024 election in comparison to the state’s larger, more decisive preference for Harris.
Orange County purports to have a singular interest – maintaining the most pristine voter rolls possible, allowing only eligible individuals to cast their votes voluntarily. However, their actions, as evidenced by the current legal situation, indicate a level of disregard towards federal voting laws, raising concerns about the integrity of their voting records.
The recent series of events is part of the continuing effort by the DOJ to block noncitizens from participating in U.S. elections. This involves initiating several lawsuits and implementing administrative reforms all in the name of preserving election integrity. The organization previously filed a lawsuit against North Carolina in May, accusing the state of not maintaining an accurate voter registration list in alignment with federal laws.
Federal prosecutors continue to monitor and pursue noncitizens, including unlawful migrants, suspected of engaging in U.S. elections. In May, the administration announced a new alliance with the Social Security Administration with an aim to provide a unified, credible resource to verify immigration status and U.S. citizenship.
The administration’s recent actions seem to be yielding results in preserving election integrity and preventing illegal voting activities. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced in June that his office launched an investigation into 33 potential noncitizens suspected of participating in voting activity. This investigation was facilitated by an executive order signed by the President, which improved state officials’ access to a federal database that aids in identifying an individual’s citizenship or immigration status.
If states and counties like Orange County continue to disregard well-established federal election laws, the integrity of our country’s elections will be at risk. It speaks volumes of the DOJ’s dedication to maintaining election transparency despite the pushback they receive from stubborn jurisdictions. One might question why such regions are so hesitant to cooperate, bringing the legitimacy of their stated commitment to clean election rolls into question.
For all its claim of being a beacon of democracy, the current administration seems more interested in prioritizing narrow regional preferences over the wider national interests. This case against Orange County, bolstered by other similar lawsuits, underscores the importance of every state’s compliance with federal law. The future integrity of our elections depends on everyone playing by the same set of rules.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her administration need to take the issue of election integrity more seriously. The mere fact that lawsuits are needed to compel counties and states to comply with federal law is a clear indication of the lack of leadership within the current administration. As concerns around election integrity continue to grow, it is questionable whether the current administration is equipped to face these challenges effectively.