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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.

🌉 It’s the latest escalation of the DOJ’s assault on California’s election system. The Trump administration is seeking to stop California from counting ballots from more than 20,000 people the federal government alleges are “likely” noncitizens.

🌉 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.

🌉 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.

🏞️ ALASKA: Trump’s DOJ is claiming Alaska’s Senate contest, which includes the names of incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and Republican challenger Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., is too confusing: demdock.com/3WrFyhl

🏞️ The administration is asking a court to block certification of the results if Sen. Sullivan loses, but would have won if he received the votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan. So far, the logic of the suit doesn’t fly with many experts.