California Governor Gavin Newsom warns federal judges of possible ballot seizures ahead of US midterm elections

California Governor Gavin Newsom has asked federal judges to remain alert to possible attempts by the Trump administration to seize election ballots and related materials ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, amid an ongoing legal dispute over federal demands for voter records.In a letter to federal judges on Saturday, Newsom said he was concerned that federal agents could seek search warrants to take possession of ballots before election results are officially certified.“Given the United States Department of Justice’s persistence in advancing this baseless theory of criminal liability, I have grave concerns federal agents will seek search warrants to seize ballots and ballot materials before the election results are certified,” Newsom wrote.He argued that such warrants could interfere with California's election process, including the counting of votes and certification of results.The warning follows a series of legal setbacks for the Trump administration in its efforts to obtain California's election records as part of an investigation into alleged noncitizen voter registration. On Friday, a US appeals court rejected the administration's latest attempt to block the state from counting votes allegedly cast by noncitizens.The dispute centres on the Justice Department's claim that more than 20,000 noncitizens are registered to vote in California. However, state officials and election experts have questioned the accuracy of the federal government's list.The Justice Department has not disclosed how many people identified in its records have actually cast ballots. California officials have described the information as unreliable, arguing that complying with federal demands could result in eligible voters being wrongly removed from the electoral process.A separate federal court ruling has also restricted the administration's approach. A judge ordered the Justice Department to stop threatening criminal prosecution against state and local election officials who refuse to comply with its election-related demands.The dispute has raised questions over the federal government's authority in administering elections. The US Constitution gives states responsibility for conducting elections, while the Trump administration has pursued access to voter records through its investigation into alleged noncitizen registration.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.