Federal Judges Dismiss Justice Department Lawsuits Seeking Voter Rolls From Maine and Wisconsin

Two federal judges dismissed Justice Department lawsuits on Thursday seeking complete voter registration lists from Maine and Wisconsin. C. S. District Judge Lance Walker dismissed the Maine case. Walker ruled that the Civil Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the National Voter Registration Act do not require states to provide unredacted voter rolls to the Justice Department.

Walker wrote that the voting laws do not allow the Justice Department to review state voter lists line by line. He stated that the department's interpretation would disrupt the balance Congress set between federal oversight and state control of elections.

The Justice Department filed the Maine lawsuit after state officials declined to provide unredacted lists containing birth dates, driver's license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. The department sought the data to check compliance with federal voter registration requirements.

Wisconsin Ruling Details U.S.

District Judge James Peterson dismissed the Wisconsin lawsuit the same day. Peterson ruled that voter registration lists are not documents that must be produced under the Civil Rights Act. C. after officials in those jurisdictions declined to turn over complete voter rolls.

Attempts to obtain lists from Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, and Rhode Island have also been rejected by courts.