A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice seeking access to Arizona's statewide voter registration list. U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich ruled that the federal government is not entitled to the list under Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, according to UPI. The ruling marks another defeat for the Trump administration in its nationwide push for state-level voter data.
Key Takeaways
A federal judge dismissed a DOJ lawsuit seeking Arizona's voter registration list, ruling it was not required under federal law. This marks the sixth loss for the Justice Department in similar cases across multiple states.
- Federal judge Susan Brnovich dismisses DOJ lawsuit with prejudice
- Ruling finds voter rolls not subject to Attorney General request under Title III of Civil Rights Act
- Arizona officials cite privacy concerns over sensitive voter information
- Similar rulings have occurred in California, Oregon, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
The Justice Department had asked Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to turn over detailed voter registration records last summer. The department claimed it needed this information to check compliance with federal election laws, specifically citing the National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act. Fontes refused, citing state and federal privacy laws that protect sensitive personal information.
In her ruling, Judge Brnovich distinguished between a legal question about the Attorney General's entitlement to the voter rolls and what she called a political question of whether they should be entitled to it. Arizona officials welcomed the decision, with Fontes and state Attorney General Kris Mayes releasing a joint statement calling it a victory for voter privacy against federal overreach.
This dismissal represents the sixth loss for the Justice Department in cases where states have refused to turn over their voter data. Similar rulings have been made in California, Oregon, Michigan, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Meanwhile, at least 13 other states have either handed over or promised to provide detailed voter registration lists to the federal government.
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