The Department of Justice on Thursday issued grand jury subpoenas to local election officials in California as part of its criminal investigation into the state's voter rolls, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. The move escalates the Trump administration's clash with states over how elections are run just days before the midterm elections.

The subpoenas come as part of the administration's effort to prove its claims that California has thousands of noncitizens on its voter rolls.

Some employees with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's office received grand jury subpoenas last week, which demand their testimony on Nov. 4, the day after the election.

Official ballot drop boxes outside the Registrar of Voters offices in San Diego, Oct.…