Federal judge: DOJ cannot request states' voter lists for eligibility database

A federal judge has ruled against the Trump administration's policy of reviewing state voter rolls against federal immigration databases. The 78-page ruling by U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan emphasized that the Department of Justice cannot override laws aimed at protecting American citizens' rights. The Justice Department had sought complete voter rolls from every state to ensure compliance with the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act.

However, eighteen states cooperated with the request, and the department lost most of the legal battles against the remaining states. The judge rejected the administration's claim of legal authority to demand voter lists, compare them with citizenship databases, and urge states to remove ineligible voters. The ruling does not hinder lawful steps to support states in maintaining accurate voter rolls or prevent states from managing their own rolls.

Sooknanan also stated that the policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Privacy Act. The legal challenge was brought by Common Cause and individual voters, with Common Cause CEO Virginia Kase Solomón calling the decision a "victory for voters." The Justice Department is reviewing the decision.