— ‘California is one of 24 states that has automatic voter registration – a system in which people are automatically registered when they interact with certain state agencies unless they opt out.

Several people who were arrested in the California case this week have expressed confusion about the charges – one saying he mistakenly thought he could vote; another saying she had no recollection of registering to vote as the authorities had alleged; and another flatly denying voting as authorities had alleged.

Democracy and constitutional law experts said it was extraordinary for the federal government to launch a heavy-handed operation to detain someone accused of a nonviolent voting offense and stunning to see the justice department directly release a propaganda-style video of the arrest, particularly before the defendant has even been indicted.’

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/23/california-voter-fraud-arrest