Judge strikes down DOJ

The ruling rejects the Trump administration’s plan to compare state voter registration lists with federal immigration databases. The Justice Department said it sought the information to assess states’ compliance with two federal laws on keeping voter rolls accurate.

The decision covers voter data the department has already obtained and records it is still seeking through litigation. The judge said the policy had led to U.S. citizens being removed from voter lists and could put more people at risk of losing their voting rights.

The judge said the decision does not stop states from maintaining their own voter lists or the federal government from taking lawful steps to support that work. The ruling places responsibility for deciding voter eligibility with states, consistent with the judge’s reading of the Constitution and federal law.

Common Cause CEO Virginia Kase Solomón welcomed the decision, calling it a win for voters and a setback for the Justice Department. The administration has argued that stronger federal oversight is needed to prevent noncitizens from voting and reduce fraud, though election experts say both are rare.

The ruling adds to court setbacks for the administration’s election policies. The same judge previously found its revised SAVE database unlawful, a decision the Supreme Court temporarily paused; courts also blocked new postal rules for mail ballots. The article does not say whether the administration plans further action in this case.