A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger that sought access to the state’s complete electronic voter registration list, ruling the court lacked authority to hear the case.
The DOJ’s complaint, filed in December 2025 under a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, sought a declaration that Georgia’s refusal to provide an unredacted statewide voter registration list violated federal law and demanded that Secretary Raffensperger produce the full electronic list. Raffensperger had filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on January 21, arguing the court did not have jurisdiction, or legal authority, to decide the matter. Less than 48 hours later, the judge agreed.
The order said federal courts can only hear cases where the statute’s jurisdictional requirements are met. Because the records and demand were tied to the Northern District of Georgia, not the Middle District where the case was filed, the judge ruled the court lacked jurisdiction and dismissed the case without prejudice. The ruling means the lawsuit is ended for now but could be re‑filed in a court with proper jurisdiction.
