Federal Court Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit for Massachusetts Voter Data

A federal judge in Boston, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin, dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking access to Massachusetts state voter rolls. The ruling, issued on a Thursday, determined that the DOJ's request did not comply with Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960. This statute requires the U.S. Attorney General to provide a statement detailing the purpose of the request and how the data—comprising personal information such as names, birth dates, and partial Social Security numbers—would be utilized. Judge Sorokin stated that the DOJ's demand was "facially deficient" and lacked a "plausible purpose," echoing concerns raised by Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin.

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The DOJ's lawsuit stemmed from Secretary Galvin's refusal to provide the state's voter data, which the Trump administration sought amid broader efforts to obtain voter registration lists from nearly every state. The DOJ argued it possessed "sweeping powers" to access voter data and claimed that the Civil Rights Act was intended to identify election law violations. However, Judge Sorokin concluded that these arguments did not address the fundamental requirements of the law.

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Following the ruling, Secretary Galvin expressed satisfaction, stating, "the court has recognized that the Department of Justice’s demand for unfettered access to personal voter data was completely without any stated basis or purpose." Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell characterized the ruling as a "decisive win for Massachusetts voters and the rule of law," emphasizing the importance of protecting voter privacy.

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The DOJ's pursuit of voter registration lists is part of a larger initiative that has seen at least 12 states, including Texas, Ohio, and Wyoming, comply with similar requests. However, 24 states and Washington, D.C., are currently engaged in legal disputes with the DOJ over these demands. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi previously argued that maintaining "clean voter rolls" is essential for free and fair elections.

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In a related development, a new lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward seeks to compel the DOJ to disclose communications between senior officials and election deniers regarding the agency's efforts to obtain state voter rolls. This lawsuit highlights concerns about transparency and the potential impact of the DOJ's actions on election integrity. Democracy Forward's requests include communications involving Harmeet Dhillon, the DOJ’s civil rights chief, and Kurt Olsen, a prominent figure in the anti-voting movement.

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While the DOJ has faced pushback in Massachusetts, it continues to pursue voter data across the country, with varying levels of compliance from different states. The ongoing legal battles raise questions about the balance between federal oversight and state rights in managing voter information.

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• “The Attorney General’s demand for the Massachusetts statewide voter registration list was facially deficient,” — U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin

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• “Private voter information should never be the subject of a fishing expedition.” — Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin

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• “People in America deserve to know what the U.S. Department of Justice is doing where our elections are concerned,” — Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward

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