Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Seeking Massachusetts Voter Data

The judge ruled the DOJ's request failed to comply with the Civil Rights Act of 1960.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:22pm

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A quiet, cinematic painting of a solitary ballot box sitting on an empty city street, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the legal battle over voter privacy.The dismissal of the DOJ's lawsuit over Massachusetts voter data underscores the ongoing tensions between federal and state authority over election integrity.Boston Today

A federal judge in Boston has dismissed a lawsuit from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that sought access to Massachusetts state voter rolls. U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin ruled that the DOJ's request 'fails for the simple reason that the Attorney General's demand did not comply with Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the statute on which it purports to rely.'

Why it matters

This ruling is a victory for voter privacy and election integrity, as the DOJ's demand for unfettered access to personal voter data was seen as a 'fishing expedition' without any stated basis or purpose. The decision also highlights the ongoing legal battles between states and the federal government over voter registration lists.

The details

Judge Sorokin determined that the DOJ failed to provide the required statement detailing why it was requesting the voter data and how it would be used, as mandated by the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell argued against the DOJ's demand, stating that private voter information should not be subject to such broad requests.

  • On April 10, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit.

The players

Leo Sorokin

A U.S. District Court Judge in Boston who dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit seeking access to Massachusetts voter data.

William Galvin

The Massachusetts Secretary of State who refused to provide the DOJ with the state's voter registration list.

Andrea Joy Campbell

The Massachusetts Attorney General who argued against the DOJ's demand for voter data, calling it a 'decisive win for Massachusetts voters and the rule of law.'

Pam Bondi

The former Attorney General who was tasked with acquiring voter registration lists from states, arguing that 'clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections.'

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What they’re saying

“I am very pleased that the court has recognized that the Department of Justice's demand for unfettered access to personal voter data was completely without any stated basis or purpose.”

— William Galvin, Massachusetts Secretary of State

“The privacy of our voters is not up for negotiation, and I will continue to defend the integrity and security of our elections from the Trump Administration's cruel and harmful agenda.”

— Andrea Joy Campbell, Massachusetts Attorney General

What’s next

The Department of Justice has not yet indicated whether it will appeal the judge's ruling.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tension between states' rights to protect voter privacy and the federal government's efforts to obtain broad access to voter registration data. The ruling is a significant victory for election integrity and the rule of law, as it reaffirms that the DOJ must comply with legal requirements when seeking such sensitive information.