Federal judge dismisses Justice Department lawsuit seeking Maryland voter data

The Trump administration's efforts to acquire state-level voter data have encountered another significant legal setback, as a federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit against Maryland. U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher ruled that the state's unredacted voter registration file is not a record the United States is entitled to obtain.

This dismissal in Maryland represents the ninth instance where judges have rejected the Justice Department's attempts to compel states to release detailed voter information, which typically includes dates of birth, addresses, driver's license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. Similar rulings have been made in Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. The department has pursued such data in 30 states and the District of Columbia.

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joins every court to have addressed this issue

Gallagher, appointed by former President Donald Trump, stated she "joins every court to have addressed this issue" in her conclusion. The Justice Department had attempted to use an internal legal opinion to justify its claim under federal civil rights law, but the judge was unpersuaded, asserting, "The Court will not interpret the (Civil Rights Act) contrary to its text simply because an office of the party advancing that interpretation has adopted it."

Federal officials have stated their need for this data is to ensure states comply with federal election laws regarding voter registration lists. However, privacy advocates and some officials from both parties have voiced strong objections, arguing that such demands violate state and federal privacy laws. Meanwhile, at least 13 states have either provided or agreed to provide their voter registration lists to the department.

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The Court will not interpret the (Civil Rights Act) contrary to its text simply because an office of the party advancing that interpretation has adopted it