California Election Offices Receive Federal Grand Jury Subpoenas Ahead of Final Voting Day

The Trump administration has issued grand jury subpoenas to election offices across California ahead of the final day of voting on Nov. 3, according to CyberScoop, which cited earlier reporting by Bloomberg. The investigations centre on alleged administration of illegal voting. They are ostensibly linked to U.S. Justice Department demands that California and other states use federal voter lists to identify "potential noncitizen" voters for removal.

The Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters said it received multiple subpoenas last week and described the federal effort as an attempt to intimidate California election officials into accepting federal authority over state voter registration. Registrar Dean Logan said officials are acting in line with state and federal law, and that court rulings at both the District Court and Court of Appeals levels have confirmed this. He said the office will take whatever steps are needed to keep its employees safe and keep serving voters. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, reportedly also a target of the probe, did not respond to a request for comment.

Not all local officials oppose the push. Clint Curtis, the outgoing Shasta County registrar of voters, endorsed federal efforts to remove 20,000 voters from California rolls. His term ends in January. This article covers only the opening of the original report, so further details are not included here.