A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit seeking access to Arizona's detailed voter records, dealing another blow to the Justice Department's unprecedented push to collect sensitive voter information before the midterm elections.
Judge Rules Against DOJ
U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich, a Trump appointee, ruled that Arizona's statewide voter registration list is not a document subject to request by the Attorney General under federal law. She dismissed the case with prejudice, stating that any amendment would be legally futile.
Background of the Lawsuit
The Justice Department has sued at least 30 states and the District of Columbia, demanding voter roll data including dates of birth, addresses, driver's license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. At least 13 states—Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming—have complied or promised to provide the information.
Court Victories for Privacy
In addition to Arizona, judges have ruled against the administration in Rhode Island, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Oregon. In Georgia, a suit was dismissed for being filed in the wrong city, prompting a refiling elsewhere.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes celebrated the ruling, saying, "This moment is a win for voter privacy. This is now the sixth federal court to reach the same conclusion. Our offices will continue to defend the privacy of Arizona voters against federal overreach."
Data Sharing Concerns
In the Rhode Island case, a DOJ attorney acknowledged the department sought unredacted voter rolls to share with the Department of Homeland Security for citizenship checks via the SAVE database. Experts warn that SAVE often relies on outdated or incomplete data, risking erroneous voter purges and disenfranchisement.
Jasleen Singh and Spencer Reynolds of the Brennan Center wrote that SAVE "could also mislead, either because it incorrectly identifies someone as a noncitizen or fails to confirm immigration status, fueling false conspiracy theories about the integrity of US elections."
Political Implications
David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation & Research said the data collection appears "more focused on amplifying false narratives about problems with our election system and preparation for elections that candidates aligned with the president might lose."
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
