Judge Dismisses Trump Lawsuit
A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against the state of California, ruling that the federal government’s attempt to obtain detailed voter records was unlawful and exceeded its authority under existing law.
The case involved a request for extensive election data covering approximately 23 million registered voters in California. Federal officials argued the information was necessary to evaluate how states maintain voter rolls and ensure compliance with federal election standards. California officials responded that the request was overly broad and risked exposing sensitive personal information.
Court Says Federal Government Overstepped Its Authority
In a 33-page ruling issued from Santa Ana, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter said the executive branch does not have the power to assume control over state election systems without clear authorization from Congress.
The judge emphasized that election administration has historically been shared between state governments and Congress, and that unilateral action by the executive branch raises constitutional concerns.
According to the ruling, allowing such data collection would represent a significant shift in the balance of power over elections.
Privacy and Participation Concerns Highlighted
Judge Carter also warned that consolidating large volumes of personal voter information at the federal level could discourage eligible voters from registering or participating in elections.
The decision stated that widespread data collection could have a chilling effect on voter engagement and undermine public trust in the electoral process—an outcome the court said would be incompatible with long-standing democratic principles.
“There cannot be unchecked consolidation of election authority in the executive branch without action from Congress,” the judge wrote.
DOJ Lawsuits Filed Against Multiple States
The Department of Justice has accused numerous states of failing to adequately explain their voter-roll maintenance procedures. In addition to California, the department has filed similar lawsuits against 23 states and Washington, D.C., many of which are led by Democratic administrations.
The requested data reportedly included voter names, dates of birth, residential addresses, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers.
State election officials across the country have questioned how such sensitive information would be stored, protected, or shared once transferred to the federal government.
Lawmakers and Officials Raise Oversight Questions
Last year, ten Democratic secretaries of state sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem seeking clarification over reports that voter information obtained by the DOJ could be shared with federal immigration authorities.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security, runs programs that verify citizenship status—adding another layer of concern for state officials responsible for election integrity.
California Welcomes Ruling
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, the state’s chief elections officer, praised the ruling and said the state would continue to defend voter privacy and election procedures established under state and federal law.
The Justice Department did not immediately issue a public response following the court’s decision.
Broader Implications Ahead
Legal analysts say the ruling could influence similar disputes nationwide, particularly as debates continue over voter roll maintenance, election security, and the proper limits of federal authority.
As election oversight remains a central issue heading into future election cycles, courts are likely to play a decisive role in defining how far the federal government can go when seeking access to state-controlled election data.
