By Blessing Nweke
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against the state of Arizona, marking another setback for efforts tied to the Trump administration to obtain detailed voter records nationwide.
U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich ruled Tuesday that Arizona’s statewide voter registration list is not subject to disclosure under federal law. In her decision, Brnovich stated the records are “not a document subject to request by the Attorney General” and dismissed the case with prejudice, concluding that any amendment would be legally futile.
The lawsuit targeted Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, whom the Justice Department sued in January for refusing to provide extensive voter data. The requested information included sensitive personal details such as birth dates, addresses, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.
Fontes welcomed the ruling, calling it “a win for voter privacy” and vowing to resist what he described as unlawful demands that could endanger residents.
The case is one of several similar legal battles across the country. Federal judges have rejected comparable lawsuits in multiple states, including California, Michigan and Massachusetts, while a filing in Georgia was dismissed on procedural grounds before being refiled.
The Justice Department has argued that access to voter data is necessary to enforce federal election laws and verify the accuracy of voter rolls. Critics, including officials from both major political parties, contend the requests violate privacy protections and could expose sensitive personal information.
Despite the legal setbacks, at least 13 states have agreed to share or consider sharing voter data with federal authorities.
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