Key facts
- Boasberg wrote that California may decide for itself what procedures to use for verifying the citizenship of registered voters.
- Boasberg wrote that the Executive Branch lacks authority to unilaterally impose its preferred procedures.
- Boasberg was appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama and is based in Washington.
- The ruling came a day before the November 3 midterm elections, with Republicans battling to keep both chambers of Congress.
A US judge ordered the Trump administration on Monday to stop demanding that California election officials segregate ballots cast by people on its lists of suspected noncitizens, Reuters reported.
The ruling by US District Judge James Boasberg came a day before the November 3 midterm elections, with President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans battling to maintain majorities in both houses of Congress.
Boasberg found that the lists the administration had compiled were flawed and included many people who were wrongly listed as noncitizens. "California may decide for itself what procedures to use for verifying the citizenship of registered voters," Boasberg wrote. "The Executive Branch lacks authority to unilaterally impose its preferred procedures." Boasberg is based in Washington and was appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama.