Federal judges in California and Oregon have rejected Justice Department efforts to obtain state voter rolls, pausing the administration’s push to review records for compliance with federal law.
In California, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter dismissed the DOJ’s lawsuit seeking access to voter data, criticizing the federal request as “unprecedented,” and warning that centralizing the data could discourage voter registration.
In Oregon, U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai tentatively granted the state’s motion to dismiss, saying he would issue a final written opinion soon. The DOJ had requested unredacted voter registration records, but the judge noted that federal law only requires states to allow limited or in-person public inspection, which he said is sufficient.
Both cases are part of a broader Justice Department initiative involving 23 states and Washington, D.C., aimed at auditing voter rolls and strengthening election oversight.
Sources: NBC News / Democracy Docket
