Federal judge dismisses DOJ attempt to obtain Michigan voter data

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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 the Trump administration'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 are concerned 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 federal and state authorities over voter data and election security. The Trump administration has made repeated efforts to access voter rolls across the country, raising concerns about potential misuse of sensitive voter information. The dismissal of this lawsuit is the latest in a series of judicial rejections of the DOJ's attempts, affirming state officials' authority to protect 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 the federal government to obtain the records it sought.

• In July 2026, the Justice Department requested voter records from the state of Michigan.
• In September 2026, Michigan officials said the state would only share public voter registration information.
• On February 10, 2026, a federal judge dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit seeking to obtain Michigan's voter rolls.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Justice Department has not indicated whether it will appeal the federal judge's decision dismissing the lawsuit.