Judge rules Iowa can challenge validity of hundreds of ballots from potential noncitizens

Republican effort comes despite criticism that the efforts could threaten the voting rights of recently naturalized US citizens in the election

A federal judge ruled Sunday that Iowa can continue to challenge the validity of hundreds of ballots from potential noncitizens despite criticism that the efforts could threaten the voting rights of recently naturalized US citizens.

In the ruling, US district judge Stephen Locher sided with the state in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of an Iowa Latino group and four recent citizens who had been placed on a list of questionable registrations by local elections officials.