Washington state secretary of state fires back at DOJ over noncitizen voter claim: ‘Profoundly disappointing’

The most telling detail here is Hobbs’s phrase “profoundly disappointing.” That’s not the language of a secretary of state who thinks the DOJ made a simple clerical error. He’s saying the federal government asked him to bypass the very checks Washington uses to keep noncitizens off the rolls, and he’s not willing to do that on the basis of a list without individual evidence.

I think Hobbs is on solid ground. Election officials have a duty to follow state law, and state law here requires proof of ineligibility before removing or setting aside a ballot. The DOJ may have legitimate concerns, but a blanket request with hundreds of names and no supporting documentation puts local officials in an impossible spot. If they comply, they risk disenfranchising eligible voters. If they refuse, they look like they’re ignoring federal authority.

What I’d want to know next is what the DOJ’s underlying data actually shows. Are these people flagged because of old records, name matches, or something more concrete? That would tell us whether this is a real problem or a federal overreach. Either way, Hobbs’s response sets a clear precedent: states will defend their processes unless the federal government brings specific, verifiable proof.

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