Arizona Wins Federal Court Ruling Against DOJ Demand for Voter Data

A federal judge in Arizona dismissed a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department against the state for not providing its voter roll data. The judge, Susan Brnovich, ruled that the department was not entitled to the document under federal law. At least 13 states have voluntarily provided the data.

Courts in California, Oregon, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island have also ruled against the administration in similar cases.

Fontes expressed concern that the Trump administration's efforts to obtain voter files from states are part of a plan to gather information on all U.S. citizens into a centralized database. He stated that such a database could allow the president to regulate aspects of opponents' lives, including access to bank accounts or healthcare.

Fontes described the actions as an attempt to control who can vote. Fontes rejected this, noting that studies show noncitizens do not vote and calling the requests an invasion of privacy under a false narrative.

the FBI seized digital data from the 2020 audit of Maricopa County's election results, conducted by Cyber Ninjas. Fontes said Petersen's action may have violated state data-protection laws. Postal Service to defer to it before delivering mail ballots.

The order is being challenged as unconstitutional. In Arizona, where 80% of votes are cast by mail, Fontes called the order an attempt to control elections. A third federal investigation by Homeland Security Investigations is examining Arizona's 2020 presidential election results.

Arizona has been central to election-related disputes. The Republican candidates for secretary of state, including Alexander Kolodin, have histories of challenging the 2020 election results. Kolodin was placed on probation by the state bar association for filing related lawsuits.

Fontes is preparing for his re-election against a potential Republican challenger who denies the 2020 election outcome.