Full Breakdown
Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Seeking Nevada’s Unredacted Voter Rolls
8/15/2026, 4:07:48 AM
Nevada Voter-File Lawsuit Dismissed
U.S. District Judge Anne R. Traum entered a judgment on Friday that rejects the Justice Department’s request for Nevada’s complete, unredacted voter registration list. The order grants summary judgment to Nevada Secretary of State Francisco V. Aguilar and Attorney General Aaron D. Ford, and directs the clerk to enter judgment against the United States. The judge found that the voter file is not the type of record covered by Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and that the DOJ failed to provide a factual basis for its demand.
Legal Background and Timeline
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division first asked for the statewide voter file in June 2025. Nevada responded with information already public under state law. After the request was deemed insufficient, the DOJ filed suit in December 2025, alleging a violation of the 1960 Civil Rights Act. Aguilar moved to dismiss in January 2026; the court’s dismissal was entered on the Friday of that week.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Department of Justice is making sweeping demands of states to hand over private voter data,” — State Francisco Aguilar, secretary
- “Today’s ruling is a victory for Nevada voters and their right to have their sensitive personal information protected,” — State Francisco Aguilar, secretary
- “This is a monumental win for the privacy of Nevadans and the protection of our elections,” — General Aaron D. Ford
Data & Statistics
- This case marks the 22nd consecutive loss for the Trump administration in federal district court when seeking unredacted voter rolls from states or jurisdictions.
- The DOJ’s demand included driver’s-license numbers and partial Social Security numbers, data that Nevada law classifies as protected personal information.
The dismissal reinforces Nevada’s stance that voter-file privacy is governed by state law, and it adds to a growing series of court rulings limiting federal attempts to compel disclosure of unredacted voter data.
