A federal judge has dismissed the Department of Justice’s lawsuit seeking Arizona’s unredacted voter rolls, marking a significant legal defeat in its nationwide efforts to access state voter data.
The ruling came from U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich, who was appointed by President Donald Trump. This decision is particularly notable because it dismisses the case with prejudice, meaning the DOJ cannot refile it. Adrian Fontes, Arizona’s Secretary of State, had previously refused to provide the requested data, citing concerns over voter privacy. The court concluded that Arizona’s statewide voter registration list does not fall under the Attorney General’s request as outlined by the Civil Rights Act of 1960.
Key facts about the ruling:
- The DOJ has lost six lawsuits aimed at obtaining states’ voter rolls.
- At least 13 states have either provided or promised to provide their detailed voter registration lists to the DOJ.
- The sensitive personal information sought included birthdates, addresses, and Social Security numbers.
This dismissal follows similar outcomes in California, Oregon, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The DOJ had filed this lawsuit in January after Arizona failed to comply with its request for detailed voter information. Fontes characterized the ruling as a win for voter privacy, stating emphatically, “I will never comply with illegal requests that put Arizona voters in harm’s way.”
Judge Brnovich noted that amending the DOJ’s claims would be legally futile—her ruling emphasized that Arizona acted correctly in refusing this request. As these legal battles continue across various states, officials remain vigilant about protecting voter privacy against federal election laws that may encroach on state rights.