Justice Department asks Supreme Court to make California set aside about 20,000 ballots

The Justice Department on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to require California to set aside the ballots of about 20,000 people the department says may be noncitizens.

The department's claim has not been proven. California officials say the number of affected voters is much smaller than 20,000.

The request follows lower-court losses. A federal judge, Judge Carter, denied a temporary restraining order last week, and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the department's request 2-1 on Oct. 30.

The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the request.