The Justice Department says it found more than 400 Washington noncitizen voters, and it wants their ballots set aside before Election Day on Nov. 3. Federal prosecutors say those people cast 1,500 votes in past elections. That is a serious claim. So the right response is not to wave it away or to hype it. Instead, check every name.
Acting U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd made the demand Monday in a letter to Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and at a Seattle news conference, The Seattle Times reports. It follows a similar demand in California.
Key Takeaways
- The DOJ asked Washington to set aside ballots from more than 400 people it says registered without U.S. citizenship.
- Prosecutors say those people cast 1,500 votes in prior elections, but no one has been charged yet.
- Hobbs says his office will only respond to requests that follow due process.
- The DOJ admits some people on its list may have since become naturalized citizens.
What the DOJ Says About Washington Noncitizen Voters
Floyd said a federal investigation found “with high confidence” that noncitizens “are voting in the state of Washington in state and federal elections, and many of them have voted multiple times.” He also called the list “only the tip of the iceberg.” In fact, he said the review so far used only a small sample.
“We are asking the state to set aside those ballots until we can confirm they are legal voters,” Floyd said, according to the AP report on PBS NewsHour. Moreover, the DOJ expects to send a second list before Election Day. Notably, the department also admitted that some people on the list may have since become naturalized.
So far, no one faces charges. Still, Floyd said, “I do anticipate that we will,” the Washington State Standard reports. Many of the people flagged are lawful permanent residents, according to his letter.
Hobbs Pushes Back Hard
Hobbs’s office said it is “carefully reviewing” the letter. However, it will “only respond to requests that follow due process.” Hobbs also said the timing, one week out, is “no doubt intended to cast unfounded suspicion on the results.”
He questions the data, too. For example, his office says one record on the list dates to 1994. In addition, Hobbs told FOX 13 Seattle that the state has had only 15 cases of noncitizen voting from 1982 to 2025. Meanwhile, his office says the DOJ has sent about 60 subpoenas since last month.
Context cuts both ways. Washington has more than 5 million registered voters, so 400 names is a tiny share. Even so, every illegal ballot cancels out a legal one. On the other hand, past federal claims have shrunk under review. In Nevada, a claim of 1,500 potential noncitizen voters turned up zero, the AP reports. Likewise, 207 possible cases in Maricopa County became eight.
Why Washington Noncitizen Voters Deserve a Real Check
Here is where conservatives should be clear. Election integrity is not a conspiracy theory. In fact, it is the foundation of consent. Because Washington votes by mail, ballots get filled out at kitchen tables, far from any poll worker. That system runs on trust, and trust requires verification.
That is why the state’s posture is a problem. Floyd says Washington refuses to share its full voter rolls, which slows the federal search. Granted, courts have sided with the state in that data fight. But winning in court is not the same as answering the question. If these 400 names are wrong, Olympia can show it fast. And if some are right, voters deserve to know.
Fiscal conservatives understand audits. After all, you don’t refuse an audit because you think the books are clean. Instead, you open the books, show your work, and let the numbers speak.
The DOJ Owes the Public Evidence Too
Accountability runs both ways, though. “High confidence” is not proof. The DOJ itself admits some names may belong to new citizens. So any case against Washington noncitizen voters belongs in a courtroom with real evidence, not in a press event days before an election.
California offers a warning. On Monday, a federal appeals court rejected the administration’s request to enforce a similar demand covering up to 20,000 ballots there. Earlier, a Los Angeles County official said in a court filing that a sample from that list turned up canceled registrations and voters who appeared to be U.S.-born, the AP reports. Sloppy lists hand critics an easy win.
The better fix comes earlier: proof of citizenship at registration. As we wrote after Alberta voted to require proof of citizenship, checking before someone registers beats chasing ballots after they arrive. It also protects legal immigrants who follow the rules.
What Comes Next
Election Day is Nov. 3. Meanwhile, the DOJ plans a second list, and Hobbs is still reviewing the first. The best outcome is simple. First, the DOJ shows its evidence. Next, the state checks each name with due process. Finally, anyone who voted illegally faces the law.
So here is our question for you: should every state require proof of citizenship to register to vote?
Follow World of Payne for More
For more conservative commentary on elections, the Justice Department, and the rule of law, visit the World of Payne homepage and follow the show on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
