Keaton Denlay, clerk-recorder for Butte County in California, has publicly detailed his encounter with Department of Justice officials who demanded he take action on what they characterized as a list of noncitizen voters. According to Denlay, a federal agent identifying himself as representing the Department of Homeland Security delivered paperwork on Friday containing a list the DoJ claimed held 47 individuals unlawfully registered to vote. The DoJ’s accompanying letter threatened criminal prosecution if local officials knowingly counted ballots from those identified as noncitizens.
Denlay said the materials provided contained significant errors and lacked crucial information needed to verify the allegations. He identified multiple problems with the documentation: the list contained only 46 distinct names despite the DoJ claiming 47, with one name repeated twice. Of those names, 32 were not on the county’s active voter rolls and had not been sent ballots, seven lacked sufficient identifying information for verification, and six potentially met the criteria for possible ineligibility. Denlay noted that under California law, challengers to voter eligibility must provide what he characterized as “extraordinary proof,” and he concluded the DoJ had not met that standard.
Denlay’s statement, published on the county website, described the list as resembling a poorly formatted Excel spreadsheet with columns that were too narrow, cutting off information. He indicated he received no digital version of the data and had no subsequent communication with federal prosecutors. Denlay said he personally reviewed the records to keep his staff focused on election duties, and characterized the experience as emotionally difficult while emphasizing his commitment to upholding his oath of office.
The DoJ has alleged that approximately 20,000 voters statewide are likely noncitizens and has pursued legal action to prevent those ballots from being counted. State officials have rejected these claims, arguing the federal government is using unreliable data and overstepping its authority over California elections. The DoJ has sent similar demand letters to county registrars across California, setting 48-hour response deadlines and making public statements about potential criminal charges against election officials. Other California county officials have also reported receiving comparable letters from federal prosecutors.
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