DOJ Seeks Review of 1,500 Washington Votes
Washington's Secretary of State rebukes a federal request to set aside ballots from over 400 alleged non-citizen voters.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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The Trump Administration Department of Justice has asked that 1,500 votes from more than 400 alleged non-citizen voters in Washington State be set aside and investigated. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has rebuked the claims.
Why it matters
Researchers at the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public say many Election Week rumors and accusations prove false, and they warn such claims can lead voters to believe elections are rigged. The episode comes as similar claims in California were struck down by the Supreme Court.
The request covers 1,500 votes from more than 400 alleged non-citizen voters, a figure drawn from a Department of Justice filing. Whether any of the flagged votes will be found ineligible has not been determined.
The players
Center for an Informed Public
An independent, bipartisan research team at the University of Washington that tracks misinformation and election rumors.
Steve Hobbs
Washington's Secretary of State, who has rebuked the Department of Justice's claims about the flagged voters.
The details
The Center for an Informed Public, an independent and bipartisan team at the University of Washington, found that many Election Week rumors turn out to be false. Researchers analyzed post-2020 elections to identify categories of election rumors, and say alleged non-citizen voting is one type among many. Benton County Elections Manager Amanda Hatfield said the county lacks sufficient verified information to assess the claims.
Timeline
November 2026: Similar claims surfaced in California and were struck down by the Supreme Court.
November 4, 2026: Election Day falls on a Tuesday while votes are being tallied.
Legal Context
A similar federal request in California was struck down by the Supreme Court in November 2026, establishing a precedent that the Washington request now follows. Researchers note that alleged non-citizen votes are one recurring type of election rumor among many.
Voters in Washington may see questions about their registration status raised during the vote count. Researchers warn that unverified rumors can make voters doubt whether their ballots will count.
The takeaway
Election rumors often spread faster than verified facts, so checking claims against official county and state sources is a practical step for voters. The Center for an Informed Public tracks these rumors on its website.
Further reading
For more on how these claims are handled, see Elections coverage in Washington.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NonStop Local Tri-Cities/Yakima.
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