Emergency application
Federal access to voter rolls
United States v. California
What did the Court do?
The Court denied the request on November 2, 2026, so nothing changes while the case continues in the lower courts.
Emergency rulings are temporary and do not decide the underlying case.
What's being asked
The federal government asks the Supreme Court for an emergency injunction (a court order to do or stop something). It wants that order while its appeal (request for a higher court to review a decision) proceeds in the Ninth Circuit. It also asks for a temporary order while the Supreme Court considers this request. The government says federal law bars noncitizens from voting in federal elections and says some still register and vote. The case names California, its secretary of state, a Los Angeles County election official, and several organizations on the other side.
What the Court did
The Court refused emergency help (denied the application) for an injunction pending appeal. The order does not decide the underlying appeal. The Court did not publish how the justices voted.
What it means
This temporary emergency ruling does not decide who wins the appeal, which proceeds in the Ninth Circuit. No related Supreme Court merits case is listed, and the application was not set for argument.
Sources
Facts on this page come from the Supreme Court docket, orders, and opinions for No. 26A624. The answers restate that record in plain words; explainer copy is written from the record and the filings only.