In a sharp rebuke out of Santa Ana, a federal judge has tossed the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit that tried to pry loose California's full, unredacted voter file, keeping sensitive data for roughly 23 million registered voters under wraps. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter found the federal demand put the privacy of millions at risk and was unprecedented in scope. The ruling is the first major courtroom setback for the administration's nationwide push to force states to hand over detailed voter records.
Judge's 33-Page Opinion Knocks Down Sweeping Data Demand
In a 33-page opinion, Carter dismissed the case and concluded the DOJ had not justified its bid for names, birthdates, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers for nearly 23 million Californians, according to the court's order. He wrote that Congress never authorized the executive branch to centralize such sensitive records and warned the request was “unprecedented and illegal,” rejecting the DOJ's claim that it needed the files for routine voter list maintenance, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Why Carter Said No
Carter said the DOJ's sweeping request amounted to a “fishing expedition,” because the department failed to point to specific, articulable facts showing California had violated the federal statutes it cited, according to the court's opinion. He warned that centralizing those records could deter people from registering and voting, especially among minority communities and legal immigrants. Intervenors, including the League of Women Voters and the ACLU, argued in court filings that California's existing privacy protections and redacted voter data already give federal authorities what they legitimately need without turning the state’s voter rolls into a one-stop identity-theft shop, according to the ACLU.
DOJ's Nationwide Voter-Roll Push Hits a Wall
The Justice Department has sued more than 20 states and the District of Columbia to obtain unredacted voter files, arguing that federal enforcement is necessary to keep “clean voter rolls,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said when the litigation launched. In a Justice Department press release, Bondi called accurate voter rolls the “cornerstone of fair and free elections.” California officials, including Secretary of State Shirley Weber, have vowed to keep defending the state's privacy rules and its authority to run elections, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Legal Fallout And What Comes Next
Carter signaled during arguments that whatever his ruling, the case was likely headed for appeal and could ultimately wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court, according to the Washington Examiner. A federal judge in Oregon has tentatively indicated plans to toss a similar DOJ lawsuit there, suggesting California's decision may be a preview of more federal losses, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. The Justice Department has not yet said whether it will appeal Carter's order, according to the Associated Press.
.jpg){kind=link}