Story perspectives

Judge Dismisses DOJ Suit, Upholds Arizona Voter Database Privacy

4/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

District Judge Susan Brnovich dismissed Justice Department suit for Arizona’s registration database, ruling Title III does not require disclosure.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said the database holds sensitive information of voters.
Attorney General Kris Mayes said the ruling vindicates Arizona’s privacy protections.
The decision, the Justice Department’s sixth loss in voter-registration suits, may be appealed, citing the National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act.

History

Historical Context

The 1993 National Voter Registration Act, signed by President Bill Clinton and funded with $300 million, built statewide voter-registration databases that 70 percent of states had adopted by 2000. After the Supreme Court upheld the Act in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council (2013), District Judge Susan Brnovich dismissed the Justice Department’s 2024 challenge to Arizona’s database, reaffirming state control.

1 of 2

Story summary

District Judge Susan Brnovich dismissed Justice Department suit for Arizona’s registration database, ruling Title III does not require disclosure.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said the database holds sensitive information of voters.
Attorney General Kris Mayes said the ruling vindicates Arizona’s privacy protections.
The decision, the Justice Department’s sixth loss in voter-registration suits, may be appealed, citing the National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act.

1 / 2