On Monday evening, the Supreme Court declined the Trump administration's emergency request to force California to segregate and not count up to 20,000 mail-in ballots that the Justice Department contends could come from noncitizens.

The filing had gone first to Justice Elena Kagan, who handles emergency appeals from the 9th Circuit, and she referred it to the full court. NBC News reports that the court acted so quickly it did not even ask California for its views first, as it normally does.

The swiftness stands out.

The administration filed its 19-page brief Monday morning, asking Solicitor General D. John Sauer's office requested an order requiring California to keep the challenged ballots separate until voters' citizenship could be verified — arguing that once ballots are commingled, 'there is no way to get the challenged ballots back.'

Yet the justices rejected it within hours, without even seeking a response.

Election law expert Travis Crum told NBC News that the court's decisive action mirrors how it turned away a series of Republican requests over a new congressional district map in the summer, showing 'its displeasure for the underlying claims' and reinforcing precedent against federal courts intervening in elections already underway.

The Supreme Court's refusal followed a string of lower-court defeats for the administration. On Oct.

28, U.S. The fight began in mid-October, when the Guardian reports the Justice Department delivered a USB drive to Los Angeles and Sacramento officials listing 20,000 alleged noncitizens, giving just 48 hours to review it and threatening to sue.

Officials refused, with LA county clerk Dean Logan saying the department had not provided the underlying evidence, source, or methodology.

State officials celebrated the ruling. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said, 'This latest decision should put an end to the administration's attempt to disrupt California's elections through emergency court orders.

But our work is not over,' while Governor Gavin Newsom said the highest court had 'firmly slapped down the Trump DoJ's baseless attack on California's electoral process — not even entertaining it.' Officials also noted it is already illegal under state law for noncitizens to vote.

The dispute lands on Election Day itself, as voters pass judgment on Trump's second term amid frustration over high prices and the unpopular war with Iran.

WTOP News reports more than 57 million people had already voted by Monday, with Democrats needing just three House seats for a majority and facing an uphill Senate map.

The legal fight may not be finished.

According to the Guardian, the administration has opened a criminal investigation in California, subpoenaed election officials, and charged 28 green card holders with fraudulently registering and voting — several of whom, like Omar Muñoz, told the Guardian they had no idea they were ineligible.

California's mail-ballot deadline runs a week after Election Day, and Attorney General Bonta has promised continued vigilance against federal efforts, so expect further courtroom battles even as votes are counted.