A federal judge in Santa Ana, California, dismissed a lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that sought detailed voting records and personal data on California's 23 million registered voters. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ruled that the government's request was "unprecedented and illegal." His decision emphasized that the Trump administration's efforts to obtain personal voter information were overreaching and that federal authorities could not unilaterally impose their electoral governance on states.
The lawsuit, filed last year by the Trump administration, claimed that California and other states were obstructing a wide-ranging initiative aimed at scrutinizing detailed voter data that states maintain as private and protected. The judge's 33-page opinion articulated a strong defense of state authority over electoral processes, declaring that "there cannot be unbridled consolidation of all elections power in the executive branch without action from Congress." Judge Carter further argued that such consolidation contradicts the principles of fair and free elections, which are foundational to American democracy.
In his ruling, Judge Carter expressed concerns that the DOJ’s approach to gathering and centralizing personal voter data could lead to a chilling effect on voter registration and threaten the right to vote. He stated that the right to participate in elections is a cornerstone of American democracy. The DOJ's failure to provide adequate justification for its demands further undermined its case.
The Justice Department did not respond immediately to inquiries regarding the ruling. The lawsuit was part of a broader campaign where the DOJ has filed suits against 23 states, predominantly led by Democrats, and the District of Columbia, seeking extensive voter data. This includes sensitive information such as names, dates of birth, residential addresses, driver's license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers.
State election officials across the country have raised questions regarding the DOJ’s intended use of the requested data, with worries that it could be improperly shared with other federal agencies. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ten Democratic secretaries of state expressed their concerns last fall over reports suggesting that the DOJ planned to share state voter data with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS, through its U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services division, conducts nationality checks and has faced scrutiny over its handling of sensitive information.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who oversees the state’s electoral processes, reaffirmed her commitment to challenging what she characterized as the Trump administration's disregard for the rule of law and its implications for the right to vote. The state remains vigilant against federal overreach into its election systems, aiming to protect voter privacy and uphold democratic principles.
