In brief
U.S. District Judge Ashley Royal concluded that the Justice Department improperly sued Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, in Macon instead of Atlanta. The dismissal allows the Justice Department to potentially refile in the correct location. Raffensperger has resisted the federal request for voter information, citing state laws protecting voter privacy. This issue is gaining prominence as Raffensperger's 2026 gubernatorial campaign unfolds amidst continuing tensions with Trump supporters.
ATLANTA (AP) — A federal judge in Georgia dismissed a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit on Friday for trying to acquire voter information from the state, ruling the federal government had sued in the wrong city. U.S. District Judge Ashley Royal found that the government should have filed its lawsuit against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in Atlanta, not in a separate federal judicial district in Macon, where Raffensperger also maintains an office.The dismissal is without prejudice, meaning the Justice Department can choose to refile the case in the proper jurisdiction. The department has not commented on the ruling.Raffensperger has been among the few Republicans to push back against demands for voter information, stating Georgia law prohibits releasing personal voter data unless certain stipulations are met, which he argues have not been satisfied by the federal government. He noted the state's provision of public voter roll information and procedures for updating ineligible registrations late last year.The Justice Department’s legal activities are a part of its broader aim to collect detailed voter data from 24 states and the District of Columbia, including sensitive information such as dates of birth and driver’s license numbers, for election security purposes. Notably, a federal judge in California previously rejected a similar lawsuit against that state due to privacy concerns.As Raffensperger prepares for his 2026 gubernatorial campaign, the refusal to comply with federal requests has emerged as a contentious issue. He previously faced pressure from former President Donald Trump to overturn the results of Georgia's 2020 presidential election, leaving a lasting impact on his political standing within the Republican Party.State Sen. Randy Robertson expressed disappointment with the ruling, citing concerns about the length of time required to resolve the issues surrounding the federal investigation. The ongoing debates over voter data accessibility are becoming pivotal as various state politicians position themselves within the political landscape shaped by Trump's influence and ongoing disputes over election integrity.
