LANSING, Mich. (AP) — In a notable judicial decision, a federal judge has put an end to the Department of Justice’s bid to access Michigan’s voter rolls. This dismissal marks another setback in the broader effort by the Trump administration to obtain voter data from multiple states.
The Justice Department has targeted at least 23 states, along with the District of Columbia, in its campaign to acquire comprehensive voter information. In her recent ruling, U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, appointed by Trump, clarified that the legal statutes referenced by the Justice Department, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1960, do not mandate the release of the sought-after records.
The aim of the Justice Department was cited as part of an initiative to bolster election security. However, Democratic officials, led by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, argue that the request infringes upon both state and federal privacy regulations. Concerns have been voiced by election officials regarding the potential misuse of this sensitive data, possibly to search for noncitizens on the voter lists.
In the U.S., the administration of elections is decentralized, with states and localities maintaining their voter information independently.
When contacted via email, Justice Department spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre chose not to comment on the ruling or indicate whether an appeal is forthcoming.
Back in July, the Justice Department sought from Michigan an unredacted version of the state’s voter registration list. Michigan responded in September, agreeing only to share public voter registration data, which excludes personal details like birth dates, addresses, and partial Social Security numbers. This led to the federal lawsuit.
Michigan Secretary of State Benson remarked on the ruling, stating, “Today’s decision affirms that the law is on our side.”
The federal agency contended that the requested data was crucial for verifying Michigan’s voter registration maintenance, referencing three federal laws: the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, and the Help America Vote Act of 2022. However, Judge Jarbou’s opinion confirmed that these laws “do not allow the United States to obtain the records at issue in this case.”
Similar lawsuits have met the same fate, with federal judges dismissing cases in Oregon and California. Recently, a judge in Georgia dismissed a related suit, citing that the federal government filed in the incorrect jurisdiction.
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