In brief
A federal judge in Oregon, Mustafa Kasubhai, dismissed a Justice Department request for detailed voter data, emphasizing privacy protections and state rights. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield praised the decision, highlighting concerns about the misuse of personal information. The lawsuit was part of broader federal efforts to obtain voter data from multiple states, which have faced legal challenges.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking Oregon’s unredacted voter rolls on Monday in another setback for the Trump administration's efforts to obtain detailed voter data from states.
In a hearing, U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai announced the dismissal, with a final written opinion to be issued in the coming days. This ruling upheld Oregon’s motion to dismiss the case.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield expressed satisfaction with the court's decision. “The court dismissed this case because the federal government never met the legal standard to get these records in the first place. Oregonians deserve to know that voting laws can’t be used as a backdoor to grab their personal information,” he stated.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the ruling.
This case comes at a time when the Justice Department has been aggressively seeking detailed voter information, including names, birth dates, and driver’s license numbers, from multiple states, with officials arguing that this data is necessary for ensuring compliance with federal election laws.
However, many states maintain that these requests violate privacy laws. In fact, federal judges in Georgia and California have recently dismissed similar lawsuits, ruling that the Justice Department did not adequately justify their requests.
The issue gained traction also with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi hinting at the need for states like Minnesota to strengthen immigration enforcement, which further emphasizes the intertwining of immigration policy and voter data requests.
Kasubhai noted that the Justice Department’s August letter did not meet legal requirements to establish a valid basis and purpose for their request. The Civil Rights Act of 1960 mandates that such records can only be made available upon a clear demand regarding the basis for the request.
The ruling highlights increasing tensions between state officials and the federal government concerning voter data, underscoring significant concerns about privacy and the scope of federal authority in state election matters.
