Federal election-related charges against 28 California residents prompted shock and confusion among several defendants who appeared at a Los Angeles courthouse on Monday, 19 October 2026. Some said they did not remember registering to vote. The cases have intensified a dispute between the Trump administration and California officials over election security ahead of the US midterm elections.
Federal authorities alleged that 21 of the 28 defendants had cast ballots. The charges include alleged fraudulent voter registration and false statements on naturalisation applications. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the defendants remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.
