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3h ago

Federal Judge Tosses DOJ Bid for Californians' Unredacted Voter Data

The court found the demand unlawful under privacy protections, warning of a chilling effect on voter registration.

FILE - A voter leaves Albion Town hall after casting their ballot on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, in Albion, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf, File)
People stand in line to vote during the 2024 U.S. presidential election on Election Day at Pasadena City College in Pasadena, California, U.S., November 5, 2024. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
A voter places his ballot into an envelope before placing it into a ballot drop box outside the Department of Elections at City Hall on Nov. 4, 2025, in San Francisco.
A voter prepares their ballot at a voting booth in Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 2022.

Overview

  • U.S. District Judge David O. Carter dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking California’s full voter rolls, calling the request unprecedented and illegal.
  • The 33-page ruling said using civil-rights statutes to amass sensitive voter information exceeded what Congress intended and threatened the fundamental right to vote.
  • The DOJ had sought names, full dates of birth, driver’s license details, and partial Social Security numbers, while California maintained such data is protected under state and federal law.
  • In a related case, U.S. District Judge Mustafa K. Kasubhai in Oregon signaled a tentative decision to dismiss the government’s suit and limit access to the public voter list, with a written opinion forthcoming.
  • The department has brought similar actions against 23 states and Washington, D.C.; California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and civil-liberties groups praised the ruling, and further appeals are expected.