A three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that states, not the federal government, have constitutional authority over elections, rejecting what California officials characterized as Trump administration efforts to override state election power.
According to California Attorney General Bonta, the court affirmed that states and Congress—not the President or Executive Branch—have the power to determine the time, place, and manner of elections. The ruling came in response to what the state described as Trump administration attempts to challenge state election authority.
California officials said the decision serves as an important step in protecting residents' right to vote and the state's authority to run fair and secure elections. The state maintains it has safeguards in place to protect election integrity, and that voter fraud is exceedingly rare, as shown by "counts, recounts, hand counts, audits," according to Attorney General Bonta.