By JULIE CARR SMYTH and MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press
A federal judge has permanently barred President Donald Trump's administration from implementing most of his first executive order on elections. Trump's order included provisions that would have required people to show documentary proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. It also would have prevented mail ballots from counting if they're received after Election Day. The ruling on Wednesday effectively makes permanent a preliminary order that the Boston-based judge issued a year ago. The judge agreed with arguments from Democratic attorneys general that the Constitution gives states and Congress, not the president, the power to regulate elections.
Days after the state's primary, California voters are in a familiar position — waiting to find out which candidates will go on to the general election in their most high-profile races, for governor and Los Angeles mayor. As he has done before, President Donald Trump used the delayed ballot count on Thursday to allege that Democrats were trying to rig the tally and keep two candidates he favors from advancing to the general election. Trump supports Republican Steve Hilton in the governor's race and Spencer Pratt in the nonpartisan race for Los Angeles mayor. His claims prompted a response from Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. His press office posted a video explaining how the nation's most populous state prioritizes accuracy and accessibility over speed.
