Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd announces findings from Washington’s voter citizenship investigation during a press conference on Oct. 26. (Photo: U.S. Department of Justice - Western District)
SEATTLE, Wash. — Washington has become the latest battleground in the Trump administration’s nationwide push to investigate alleged voting fraud, with federal officials asking the state to set aside ballots linked to 405 people whose citizenship they question.
The request, announced Monday, comes one week before the Nov. 3 general election and follows similar federal action in California, where the Justice Department has challenged the state over thousands of people it claims may be noncitizens registered to vote. The administration has also pursued voter data from states across the country.
“For years Washington State has had a mantra: our elections are ‘free, fair, and devoid of fraud.’ But our investigation shows not all of that is true – people who are non-citizens are registered to vote and are voting in our state. We have identified over 400 non-citizens who are registered to vote and have voted in multiple elections. This is only the tip of the iceberg. We will continue to investigate and identify those who are committing crimes by voting illegally.”
— Neil Floyd, Acting U.S. Attorney
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs disputes the reliability of their data and warns that the request could jeopardize eligible voters’ rights just one week before the general election.
The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for Western and Eastern Washington announced Oct. 26 that investigators identified 405 people they believe registered and voted in Washington elections while ineligible because they lacked U.S. citizenship.
Federal officials said the group cast more than 1,500 ballots in previous elections and asked the state to set aside ballots linked to those individuals until officials confirm their citizenship.
The dispute also raises questions about the consequences of voter eligibility investigations for lawful permanent residents, including the case of Point Roberts resident Paige Adamson, who died Oct. 18 after federal agents questioned her about allegations involving voter registration and voting.
No public information confirms that Adamson appears on the federal list of 405 people.
Federal Officials Allege Illegal Voting
Floyd said investigators identified more than 400 noncitizens who registered and voted in multiple elections.
Serrano said federal officials shared the information with the state to protect eligible voters’ ballots.
“Free and fair elections should be the concern of every United States citizen. Our purpose in sharing this data with the Secretary of State is to protect the sanctity of each citizen’s vote. Our goal in sharing this information with the State of Washington is to ensure that a Washington citizens’ votes are protected in this and future elections.”
— Pete Serrano, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Washington
The prosecutors said many people on the list hold lawful permanent resident status, commonly known as a green card. Permanent residents may live and work in the United States, but they generally cannot vote in federal, state or most local elections.
Federal officials also said some green card holders may have entered Washington’s voter rolls through the state’s Motor Voter program without understanding that registration did not make them eligible to vote.
The announcement does not establish that every person on the list knowingly registered illegally or intentionally cast an ineligible ballot. Washington officials have not publicly confirmed the individual cases.
Hobbs Challenges the Federal Data
Hobbs’ office told PNW Daily that it received a Justice Department letter requesting information about people on Washington’s voter rolls. The office is reviewing the request and assessing its legal obligations before responding.
“The timing of this request, one week before the General Election, is no doubt intended to cast unfounded suspicion on the results. At the same time, thousands of voters were recently disenfranchised in our August Primary due to delayed postmarks.”
— Steve Hobbs, Washington Secretary of State
Hobbs also questioned the federal system’s reliability. His office said the system can incorrectly flag U.S. citizens as noncitizens, potentially putting eligible voters’ rights at risk.
The office raised concerns about federal retention of private voter information, citing a 10-year retention period.
One of the approximately 400 records in the federal letter dates to 1994, according to Hobbs’ office. Since that year, Washington has counted 113.5 million ballots in primary and general elections, the office said.
Hobbs said Washington would not release information that state or federal law protects.
“We take our responsibility to protect voter information seriously and will only respond to requests that follow due process. We saw what happened in California and don’t want Washingtonians to be harassed.”
— Steve Hobbs, Washington Secretary of State
The office said election officials investigate suspected voter fraud and refer cases to county sheriffs and prosecutors when appropriate. Washington voters also attest to their eligibility when they sign their ballot return envelopes.
The federal announcement does not establish that Washington officials have independently verified all 405 cases.
Adamson’s Case Shows the Personal Stakes
Adamson, a 61-year-old Canadian citizen and U.S. permanent resident, lived in Point Roberts for about 14 years. U.S. border agents detained her in September and questioned her about allegations involving voter registration and voting in a U.S. election.
According to CBC News, agents held Adamson for nearly six hours on Sept. 15. They released her with a notice to appear at a deportation hearing scheduled for November.
Adamson had told CBC that she did not recall voting in U.S. elections and denied voting in a federal election, but public Washington voter data showed Adamson had voted in past elections, including the 2020 presidential primary.
Adamson Feared Crossing the Border for Care
Cascadia Daily News reported that Adamson had been unwell and fell at home in the days before her death. She feared crossing the border to seek medical care in Bellingham because she worried authorities might detain her or prevent her return to Point Roberts.
That fear reflected real legal risk: leaving the country while removal proceedings are pending can result in an in absentia removal order if a scheduled hearing is missed, and can also jeopardize a lawful permanent resident’s ability to re-enter the country.
The Whatcom County Medical Examiner determined that Adamson died from acute blood loss caused by a fractured femur following a ground-level fall, according to Cascadia Daily News.
No public confirmation links Adamson to the federal list of 405 people. Her case nevertheless illustrates why officials and the public must distinguish voter registration records, allegations of ineligible voting and proven criminal conduct.
A database entry may prompt an investigation, but it does not by itself establish a person’s citizenship status at the time of voting, intent or criminal guilt. For permanent residents, allegations can also carry immigration consequences separate from any criminal prosecution.
Hobbs Cites Ballot Rejection Concerns
Hobbs also pointed to ballot processing problems during Washington’s August primary.
His office said election officials rejected just over 20,000 ballots for late postmarks out of approximately 1.9 million ballots returned in the August 2026 primary.
By comparison, officials rejected about 4,600 of the 4 million ballots returned in the 2024 general election for late postmarks, according to the office.
Hobbs said late postmarks increased ballot rejections by 300% to 500% in some Washington counties.
The ballot rejection figures concern a separate election administration issue. They do not establish whether the federal allegations are accurate. Hobbs cited them to emphasize the need to protect eligible voters while the state reviews the Justice Department’s request.
Hobbs’ office said it will continue reviewing the federal request and will not release information protected by law.
Federal prosecutors said they want Washington to take action before the Nov. 3 general election.
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