3 November 2026 (Navroze Bureau) The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s last-minute request to force California election officials to set aside mail-in ballots cast by around 20,000 registered voters suspected by federal authorities of being non-US citizens. The decision came on the eve of the November 3, 2026, midterm elections, as opinion polls showed Democratic candidates leading in several closely watched races.
The Supreme Court denied the Justice Department’s emergency application in a brief, unsigned order. The court did not provide an explanation, and no justice publicly dissented. The ruling means California officials are not required to segregate the disputed ballots and can continue processing them under the state’s election procedures.
The legal dispute became one of the most closely watched election-related battles in the final days of the midterm campaign.
Supreme Court Rejects Trump Administration’s Request
The Trump administration had asked the Supreme Court to intervene after lower federal courts refused to order California election officials to separate ballots associated with approximately 20,000 people identified on a federal government list as suspected noncitizens.
The Justice Department argued that the ballots should be kept separate until the citizenship status of the voters could be verified. It maintained that federal law prohibits non-US citizens from voting in federal elections and that the requested measure would protect eligible voters from having their votes diluted.
California officials challenged the reliability of the federal list and warned that separating the ballots could disrupt election operations and potentially affect eligible voters.
The Supreme Court’s decision followed setbacks for the administration in the lower courts. A federal district judge had earlier rejected the request, raising concerns about the accuracy of the government’s identification process. The appeals court also declined to grant the emergency relief sought by the Justice Department.
Dispute Involved Around 20,000 Registered Voters
The controversy began after the Justice Department sent California election officials a list of approximately 20,000 people it claimed were registered voters but potentially not US citizens. The department asked the state to ensure that ballots returned by these individuals were not counted until their citizenship could be checked.
California officials questioned the methodology used to compile the list. Los Angeles County also raised concerns that some records were outdated, inactive or inaccurate.
The state argued that the federal government’s demand came too close to election day and could create serious administrative difficulties. It also warned that eligible citizens could face the risk of having their ballots wrongly held aside.
Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections. However, the central issue before the courts was whether the administration could require California to segregate ballots based on the disputed federal list at that stage of the election process.
Final Midterm Polls Show Democratic Leads in Several Races
The court ruling came as the 2026 midterm election campaign reached its final stage. Polling published ahead of election day showed Democratic candidates with leads in several competitive contests, putting the balance of power in Congress under close scrutiny.
A report by the Los Angeles Times on November 2 noted that Democrats were ahead of Republicans by several points in recent generic congressional ballot surveys. The report also highlighted competitive Senate contests in states including Michigan, Texas, Maine and Ohio.
Some polls showed Democratic candidates leading their Republican opponents in individual Senate races. However, the margins varied by state and survey, and several contests remained within competitive ranges.
The polling picture also suggested that Democrats were seeking opportunities to gain seats in both chambers of Congress. The outcome will depend on individual state races, voter turnout and the final count of ballots.
Control of House and Senate at Stake
The November 3 midterm elections will determine the composition of the US House of Representatives and Senate for the next congressional term.
Republicans entered the election cycle defending their control of both chambers, while Democrats sought to gain seats. Historically, the party holding the White House has often faced losses in midterm elections, making the contests an important test of the president’s political standing.
The House and Senate races have drawn attention because even a limited shift in seats could affect the legislative agenda during the remaining years of Donald Trump’s second presidential term.
The Senate contest is particularly significant because several races are competitive in states where the outcome could influence the balance of power. Polls provide a snapshot of voter preferences at the time they are conducted, but they do not determine the final election result.
Election Day to Decide Whether Polling Trends Translate Into Results
With voting scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, candidates from both parties made their final appeals to voters. Campaigns focused on issues including the cost of living, the economy, immigration, healthcare and the administration’s policies.
The Supreme Court’s decision on the California ballots added another major legal development to an already contentious election campaign. It also renewed debate over the division of authority between federal and state governments in administering elections.
While the latest surveys showed Democratic leads in a number of competitive races, the final outcome remained uncertain. Vote counting, turnout and the performance of candidates in closely contested states will determine whether the polling trends translate into changes in congressional control.