Trump DOJ Largely Loses Push For States' Unredacted Voter Rolls

Federal judges have dismissed the Justice Department's efforts to obtain unredacted statewide voter registration rolls in 27 jurisdictions, a major setback for the Trump-era push.^[1]

The dismissals include large states such as California, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin.^[1] The Justice Department has appealed most dismissals.^[1] Lawsuits remain pending in Delaware, Hawaii and Idaho, and DOJ voluntarily dismissed its Oklahoma case after the state agreed to provide its voter list.^[1] The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld a lower court ruling rejecting DOJ's attempt to obtain Michigan's unredacted rolls.^[1]

Since 2025, the Justice Department sued 30 states and the District of Columbia seeking unredacted statewide voter registration rolls.^[1] Former President Trump issued two executive orders on proof-of-citizenship and on mail voting.^[1] Courts blocked both orders, and he is pushing the SAVE America Act to tighten mail-voting and voter ID rules.^[1]

With appeals underway, higher courts will likely decide whether the Justice Department can compel states to hand over unredacted voter lists and how federal oversight intersects with state-run election systems.

1. CBS News