Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Against Arizona on Voter Data Access

A federal judge in Arizona dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit on April 28, 2026, that sought access to the state's statewide voter registration list. U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich ruled that the list is not subject to request by the Attorney General under Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960.

The dismissal was with prejudice, as amendment would be legally futile. The Justice Department sued Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes in January 2026 after he declined to provide the data. The requested information included voters' full names, dates of birth, home addresses, and either driver's license numbers or partial Social Security numbers.

Arizona officials, including Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes, refused, citing state and federal privacy laws protecting sensitive personal information.

This ruling represents the sixth loss for the Justice Department in similar lawsuits, following defeats in California, Oregon, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The department has filed suits against at least 30 states and the District of Columbia to obtain detailed voter records.

Federal officials stated the data is needed to ensure compliance with the National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act, including maintenance of accurate voter lists. In a related Rhode Island case, a Justice Department attorney said the data would be shared with the Department of Homeland Security to verify citizenship status.

CBS News reported on a deal between the Justice Department and Homeland Security to use voter registration data for immigration and criminal investigations.

“This moment is a win for voter privacy. In Georgia, a DOJ lawsuit was dismissed due to being filed in the wrong city, leading to a refiling. Arizona officials hailed the ruling in a joint statement. Fontes and Mayes said the decision vindicated Arizona's refusal and committed to defending voter privacy against federal overreach.”