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

U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan has ruled that the Department of Justice's policy of collecting unredacted state voter rolls for comparison against federal immigration databases is unlawful. The judge determined that the policy violated privacy laws and exceeded the DOJ's authority, noting that Congress granted states rather than the federal government control over voter roll maintenance. The lawsuit, initiated by Common Cause, sought to halt the practice implemented under a presidential executive order aimed at investigating non-citizen voting ahead of the midterm elections.

U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan has ruled that the Department of Justice's policy of collecting unredacted state voter rolls for comparison against federal immigration databases is unlawful. The judge determined that the policy violated privacy laws and exceeded the DOJ's authority, noting that Congress granted states rather than the federal government control over voter roll maintenance. The lawsuit, initiated by Common Cause, sought to halt the practice implemented under a presidential executive order aimed at investigating non-citizen voting ahead of the midterm elections.