Federal judges dismiss DOJ lawsuits seeking voter rolls in California, Michigan, and Oregon

Federal judges in three states dismissed Justice Department lawsuits seeking unredacted voter registration lists between January and February 2026. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter dismissed a lawsuit in California on January 15, finding the government's request for sensitive information of Californians was "unprecedented and illegal" and would have a "chilling effect" on American citizens. U.S. District Judge Hala Jarbou dismissed a lawsuit in Michigan on February 10, ruling that the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the National Voter Registration Act, and the Help America Vote Act do not allow the United States to obtain the records the DOJ sought. U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai dismissed a lawsuit in Oregon on January 27, saying the federal government never met the legal standard to get these records. The rulings marked setbacks to the Trump administration's effort to consolidate voter data traditionally held by states.