CBS News reported that a federal judge on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration's bid to require California election officials to separate out mail ballots received from roughly 20,000 people whom the administration claims are not U.S. citizens. The CBS News report on the ruling described the request as one seeking that separation.
The New York Times reported that the judge ruled that no immediate action was necessary. The Times said the decision dealt another setback to the administration as it moves to target voting by noncitizens. The New York Times report, written by Shawn Hubler, covers the ruling.
Fox News reported that the judge blocked the Justice Department from barring California's count of mail ballots from over 20,000 alleged noncitizen voters on its rolls. The Fox News report on the Justice Department request framed the matter as a request to block California from immediately counting those ballots.
The outlets differ on the size of the group and on how the ruling is framed. CBS News put the figure at roughly 20,000 people, while Fox News said more than 20,000. CBS News described the court as rejecting a bid to require separation of the ballots, and Fox News described it as blocking the Justice Department from barring the count. CBS News, The New York Times and Fox News each reported that the ruling went against the administration's request.
The summaries of the CBS News, New York Times and Fox News reports do not name the judge or the court. They also do not describe the reasoning behind the decision beyond the Times account that no immediate action was necessary. None of the three summaries indicates what steps, if any, follow the ruling.
Sources: CBS News: Judge rejects DOJ's push to force California to set aside ballots; The New York Times: Judge Rejects Trump Officials’ Bid to Set Aside California Ballots; Fox News: Judge rejects DOJ request to block California from immediately counting ballots linked to alleged noncitizens.