Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit seeking detailed voter information from California

Federal Judge Blocks Justice Department’s Bid for California Voter Data

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice against California that sought to compel the state to hand over detailed records and personal data on its 23 million registered voters. In a strongly worded ruling issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter in Santa Ana called the government’s request “unprecedented and illegal.”

The Trump administration filed the lawsuit last year as part of a broader initiative targeting 23 states, primarily those with Democratic leadership, plus the District of Columbia. The federal government sought comprehensive voter information including names, birthdates, residential addresses, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers.

Judge Carter’s 33-page decision rejected the administration’s claims, stating that the federal government “may not unilaterally usurp the authority over elections.” The judge expressed concern that centralizing such personal information would discourage voter registration and threaten “the right to vote which is the cornerstone of American democracy.”

“There cannot be unbridled consolidation of all elections power in the executive (branch) without action from Congress,” Carter wrote. “This is antithetical to the promise of fair and free elections.”

The ruling represents a significant setback for the Justice Department’s wide-ranging effort to scrutinize voter data that states have maintained is private and protected under state laws. California, the nation’s most populous state, had become a focal point in the legal battle over voter information access.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling or whether it plans to appeal the decision.

At the heart of the case was the administration’s accusation that states were not adequately responding to questions about their procedures for maintaining voter rolls. Critics, however, have questioned the motives behind the federal government’s push for such detailed personal information.

The ruling comes amid heightened tensions between state election officials and federal authorities over election administration. Last fall, ten Democratic secretaries of state wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressing serious concerns after reports emerged suggesting the Justice Department was sharing state voter data with the Department of Homeland Security.

Those concerns were amplified by the knowledge that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, operating under DHS, maintains a program that checks citizenship status. State officials worried this could lead to improper scrutiny of eligible voters or potential voter intimidation.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who serves as the state’s chief elections officer, welcomed the court’s decision. In a statement following the ruling, Weber affirmed that California would “continue to challenge this administration’s disregard for the rule of law and our right to vote.”

The case highlights ongoing tensions in the American electoral system between federal oversight and states’ traditional authority over election administration. Legal experts note that while the federal government has legitimate interests in election integrity, states have long maintained primary responsibility for conducting elections and maintaining voter rolls.

The court’s decision reinforces the principle of federalism in election administration, potentially influencing similar legal challenges across the country. As other states face comparable lawsuits from the Justice Department, Judge Carter’s ruling may provide a legal roadmap for their defenses.

With national elections approaching, the ruling underscores the high stakes in disputes over voter data and election administration, issues that continue to be politically charged in America’s deeply divided political landscape.