Days before midterms, the Justice Department asked Washington to set aside ballots linked to 405 suspected noncitizen voters, citing federal data and past votes.
Story Snapshot
- Justice Department named 405 suspected noncitizen voters and asked Washington to segregate linked ballots.
- Federal attorneys said many on the list are lawful permanent residents who are not allowed to vote.
- Officials estimated more than 1,500 ballots were cast by the group over multiple elections.
- Washington’s top election official questioned the list’s accuracy and is reviewing it.
What Federal Prosecutors Requested and Why It Matters
Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Pete Serrano told Washington’s Secretary of State they identified 405 registered voters who are not U.S. citizens and who voted in multiple elections, based in part on data from the Department of Homeland Security. They asked the state to segregate any ballots linked to those voters while citizenship status is checked. Prosecutors said many on the list are lawful permanent residents, who have status to live here but cannot vote in U.S. elections.
Prosecutors estimated the group’s ballots exceed 1,500 across past elections, but they did not publish a ballot-by-ballot count or the time period covered. Their public materials did not include the names, matching method, or the exact records that flagged each voter. Officials said they would provide the list to the Secretary of State for verification. They framed the step as an interim safeguard, not a final ruling on ballot validity.
How Washington Officials Responded
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs confirmed receipt of the letter and raised accuracy concerns. His office said the federal process can mistakenly flag eligible citizens as noncitizens, risking lawful votes. Hobbs highlighted that one record in the federal set dates to 1994, which he said adds to doubts about the data’s quality. His office said voter fraud in the state is rare and that officials are reviewing the request to ensure any response follows state and federal law.
Hobbs’ office pointed to its long-term records: from 1982 to 2025, the state documented 15 cases of noncitizen voting, which equals a tiny fraction of total ballots cast. That historic baseline does not settle the new claims, but it sets context for how unusual confirmed cases have been. The state has not said how long it needs to verify the 405 names or how it will handle ballots if the midterm count is close in any race.
Evidence Gaps and Verification Steps Ahead
Federal attorneys said the Department of Homeland Security supplied names, yet investigators lacked official ballot-cast records that directly tie each person to specific ballots, relying instead on public voter information and federal databases. That leaves two checks to complete: confirm current citizenship status, and link verified noncitizens to actual ballots for specific elections. Without those steps, estimates remain summaries rather than case files. No criminal charges were filed at the time of the announcement.
DOJ Asks Washington to Set Aside Ballots From More Than 400 Suspected Noncitizen https://t.co/u0WTfOMbf9
— Restored Republic (@R_republic_411) October 27, 2026
Both sides can resolve key questions with a detailed audit. The Justice Department could release a redacted index that shows how each name was matched to federal records and when those records were last updated. Washington could lawfully share ballot history data for these voters under safeguards. Together, they could confirm who remained a noncitizen at the time of voting, who later naturalized, and which elections are involved. Clear steps like these would reduce doubt and protect valid votes.
Why Timing and Trust Are the Bigger Story
The request landed right before the midterms, inviting claims of interference from one side and negligence from the other. Many voters, right and left, already believe political insiders bend rules to hold power, while basic tasks like keeping clean voter rolls still lag. If the list proves accurate, it shows real gaps that need fast fixes. If it contains many false matches, it risks chilling valid voters and deepening mistrust in the system that both parties say they want to secure.
What To Watch Next
Watch for three signals. First, whether Washington segregates ballots and on what legal basis. Second, whether a joint verification produces a public tally that assigns confirmed cases to exact elections. Third, whether the Justice Department files any charges after verification. These actions will show if this is a targeted fix to protect election integrity, or another chapter where poor data and poor timing fuel the national fight over voting with few verified facts to show for it.
Sources:
cbsnews.com, thehill.com, justice.gov, commondreams.org, abc6onyourside.com, sentinelcolorado.com
