Federal Judge Tosses Trump DOJ Demand for California’s Full, Unredacted Voter File as ‘Unprecedented and Illegal’
A federal judge, David O. Carter, dismissed the Justice Department’s bid to obtain California’s full, unredacted voter file for some 23 million voters—including names, driver’s‑license numbers and partial Social Security numbers—calling the request “unprecedented and illegal” and saying the administration may not unilaterally usurp authority over elections. Carter framed the lawsuit as part of a broader effort to build a national voter roll through similar suits in roughly two dozen states, warned that erosion of privacy and voting rights must be addressed by Congress not the executive, and California officials vowed to continue defending voters amid concerns about sharing data with DHS/USCIS.
📌 Key Facts
- Federal Judge David O. Carter dismissed the Justice Department’s request for California’s full, unredacted voter file, blocking access to names and personal information — including driver’s‑license numbers and partial Social Security numbers — for about 23 million California voters.
- Carter’s written opinion called the DOJ request "unprecedented and illegal" and ruled the administration "may not unilaterally usurp the authority over elections," warning that consolidating election power in the executive branch would chill voter registration and threaten the right to vote.
- Carter wrote that "the taking of democracy does not occur in one fell swoop; it is chipped away piece‑by‑piece," and said erosion of privacy and voting rights must be addressed by the legislative, not the executive, branch.
- The ruling frames the DOJ effort as part of a broader push to build a national voter roll: the department has sued roughly two dozen jurisdictions (reported as 23 states and D.C.) seeking similar detailed voter data.
- The decision appears to thwart, at least for now, the federal government’s plan to comb California’s rolls to potentially challenge voter eligibility, in the context of former President Trump’s continued false claims about noncitizen voting and voter fraud.
- Ten Democratic secretaries of state had warned Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about DOJ plans to share voter files with DHS/USCIS citizenship databases.
- California Secretary of State Shirley Weber said the state will "continue to challenge this administration’s disregard for the rule of law and our right to vote."
📊 Relevant Data
In California, voter turnout among eligible adults in the 2020 election was 74% for Whites, 64% for Latinos, 69% for Asian Americans, and 70% for African Americans.
Race and Voting in California — Public Policy Institute of California
Between 2010 and 2022, California's Hispanic/Latino population increased by 1.7 million, from 14.1 million to 15.7 million, representing growth from about 37.6% to 39.9% of the total population, while the White population share declined from 40.1% to 34.7%.
California population by year, county, race, & more — USAFacts
In U.S. jurisdictions previously covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, the gap in voter turnout between White and Black voters increased from 3.5 percentage points in 2008 to 10.3 percentage points in 2022.
Racial disparities in voter turnout have grown since court ruling weakened Voting Rights Act — NPR
Voter purge rates in Michigan are significantly higher in counties with higher proportions of Black residents, lower median household income, and higher poverty rates.
Spatial and statistical predictors of voter purge rates in Michigan — Social Science Quarterly
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Judge David O. Carter’s written decision explicitly labels the DOJ request for California’s detailed voter file 'unprecedented and illegal.'
- Carter rules the administration 'may not unilaterally usurp the authority over elections' and warns that consolidating election power in the executive branch without Congress would chill voter registration and threaten the right to vote.
- The article reiterates that DOJ has sued 23 states and D.C. for similar data and notes 10 Democratic secretaries of state warned AG Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about DOJ sharing voter files with DHS/USCIS citizenship databases.
- California Secretary of State Shirley Weber responds that the state will 'continue to challenge this administration’s disregard for the rule of law and our right to vote.'
- New York Times piece confirms Judge David O. Carter’s dismissal specifically blocks DOJ’s attempt to obtain names and personal information, including driver’s‑license and partial Social Security numbers, for California’s 23 million voters.
- The ruling explicitly frames the DOJ effort as part of a broader push to build a national voter roll from similar lawsuits in roughly two dozen states, many Democratic‑led.
- Carter’s opinion includes a sharp warning that 'the taking of democracy does not occur in one fell swoop; it is chipped away piece‑by‑piece,' and says erosion of privacy and voting rights must be decided in the legislative, not executive, branch.
- The article underscores that the decision appears to thwart, at least for now, the federal government’s plan to comb California’s rolls to potentially challenge voter eligibility, in the context of Trump’s continued false claims about noncitizen voting and voter fraud.