Federal judge dismisses DOJ attempt to obtain Michigan voter data

Latest rejection in President Trump's efforts to access voter information from states

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from the Department of Justice that sought to obtain Michigan's voter rolls, marking the latest judicial rejection in President Donald Trump's wide-ranging attempts to gain access to voter data from states. The Justice Department has sued at least 23 states and the District of Columbia in its effort to obtain detailed voter information, citing election security as the reason. However, Democratic officials say the demand violates state and federal privacy laws, and election officials have raised concerns the data could be used for other purposes, such as searching for potential noncitizens on the rolls.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the federal government and states over voter data and election security. The Justice Department's efforts to obtain detailed voter information from states have faced repeated legal challenges, with judges ruling that the laws cited by the DOJ do not require the disclosure of the records it sought. This reflects broader concerns about federal overreach and the protection of voter privacy.

The details

In July, the Justice Department requested voter records from the state of Michigan, including a copy of Michigan's unredacted voter registration list. In September, Michigan officials said the state would only share public voter registration information, which does not include identifying details like birth dates, addresses, and partial Social Security numbers. This prompted the federal lawsuit, which the judge has now dismissed, ruling that the laws cited by the DOJ do not allow it to obtain the records it sought.

  • The Justice Department requested Michigan's voter records in July 2026.
  • Michigan officials said in September 2026 they would only share public voter registration information, not unredacted data.
  • The federal judge dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit on February 10, 2026.

The players

Department of Justice

The U.S. federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice.

Jocelyn Benson

The Michigan Secretary of State, who said the DOJ's demand for voter data violates state and federal privacy laws.

Hala Y. Jarbou

The U.S. District Judge who dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit, ruling that the laws cited do not require the disclosure of the records the DOJ sought.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, whose wide-ranging attempts to gain access to voter data from states have faced repeated legal challenges.

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What they’re saying

“Today's decision affirms that the law is on our side.”

— Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State

“The laws cited by the DOJ in its complaint, including the Civil Rights Act of 1960, do not require the disclosure of the records it sought.”

— Hala Y. Jarbou, U.S. District Judge

What’s next

It is unclear whether the Department of Justice will appeal the federal judge's decision to dismiss the lawsuit.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the federal government and states over voter data and election security. The repeated legal challenges to the DOJ's efforts to obtain detailed voter information from states underscore the importance of protecting voter privacy and the integrity of state-level election administration.