Washington, October 29 (QNA) - A US federal judge has rejected a Trump administration bid to block California from counting mail-in ballots cast by more than 20,000 registered voters suspected by the Justice Department of being non-US citizens, warning that the move would wreak havoc on the election process.

The ruling by US District Judge David O. Carter came as more than 3.7 million Californians had already cast their ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

The decision marks another legal setback for President Donald Trump's efforts to expand federal intervention in state-run elections, with control of both chambers of Congress at stake in a vote that will shape the remainder of his presidency. The Justice Department appealed the ruling later on Wednesday. (QNA)