LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Dean C. Logan issued the following statement in response to litigation filed today by the U.S. Department of Justice concerning voter eligibility and the processing of Vote by Mail ballots for the November 3, 2026 General Election.
“This morning, Los Angeles County formally responded to the Department of Justice’s October 13 correspondence, outlining the legal and operational concerns with its demands and pointing out that the list provided referenced individuals throughout California, not specifically in Los Angeles County.
We are also aware that the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit without regard for, or acknowledgment of, the County’s timely response. We are coordinating with the California Secretary of State, Attorney General, and our counsel as the matter proceeds while maintaining focus on administering the election.
Our responsibility is to maintain accurate voter registration records, ensure access to voting, and to protect the rights of every eligible voter. These responsibilities are not mutually exclusive. Federal and state laws establish clear requirements for voter eligibility, ballot processing, and the protection of voting rights. Those requirements cannot be arbitrarily changed midway through an election.
The Department of Justice has not provided the underlying evidence, source, or methodology supporting its assertions that individuals identified in its records are ineligible to vote. We cannot withhold or refuse to count ballots based solely on unverified allegations, nor can we disregard the legal requirements governing our election – and we certainly have no authority to act on records that are outside of our jurisdiction.
With voting already underway, our focus remains on conducting a safe, secure, accurate, and transparent General Election. Voters should remain confident that our office will continue following established laws and procedures to ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate and every valid ballot is counted.”
The County’s formal response to the Department of Justice, along with the California Secretary of State’s response, is available below.