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🧵 With voting underway, the Trump administration is trying to stop ballots from being counted, starting with lawsuits in California and Alaska. Despite their flimsy claims, the suits may lay the groundwork to challenge results or contest certification after Election Day. Here’s what to know 👇

🌉 CALIFORNIA: The Trump admin sent letters to all 58 California counties Friday, demanding that election officials segregate ballots from alleged noncitizens. The administration threatened election officials with potential criminal charges if they fail to comply, the New York Times reported.

🌉 In a rare Sunday hearing, a federal appeals court heard the DOJ’s emergency appeal seeking a court order requiring California election officials to segregate mail ballots received from those on the federal government’s alleged “likely” noncitizens list.

🌉 The judges seriously questioned the motives, timing and merits of the administration’s argument.

🌉 Throughout the hearing, the DOJ’s attorney struggled to explain the administration’s methodology for flagging the 20,000 individuals as “likely” noncitizens. After two hours, the hearing concluded, and the judges said they would issue a decision as soon as possible.