California Accused of De‑criminalizing Voter Fraud by Rolling Back Safeguards

Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, told the Daily Signal that the state has “basically…decriminalized voter fraud” by removing election safeguards that most other states retain. He said federal prosecutors are pursuing access to California’s voter rolls in court and are investigating multiple alleged fraud cases as the 2024 midterm elections approach.

Essayli highlighted a recent federal charge against a woman who paid homeless individuals on Skid Row to register to vote with false information, describing it as “a little slice” of broader fraud concerns. He criticized California’s automatic mail‑ballot system, its lack of voter ID requirements, and the use of non‑citizen‑verifying IDs such as gym memberships and prescription labels. He noted past incidents where non‑citizens with driver’s licenses were erroneously registered and subsequently removed.

The Justice Department has requested a full audit of the state’s voter rolls, which California has resisted, citing state privacy laws. Essayli called the state’s argument “ludicrous,” emphasizing that federal law supersedes state law and that a stronger framework requiring proof of citizenship at registration is needed to ensure election security.