Federal Judges Dismiss Trump Administration Lawsuits on Climate and Voter Data

A federal judge in Rhode Island dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit on April 17, 2026, that sought detailed voter data from the state. S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy rejected the Justice Department's demand for unredacted voter rolls, including dates of birth, addresses, driver's license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers.

McElroy stated that federal law does not allow the department to conduct such a broad inquiry without specific allegations of violations. The ruling follows similar dismissals in other states, including California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Oregon, where judges have denied federal requests for voter data.

The Justice Department has sued at least 30 states and the District of Columbia to obtain this information, asserting it is needed for election security.

However, at least 12 states, such as Alaska, Arkansas, and Indiana, have provided or promised to provide their voter registration lists. Election officials and civil rights advocates argued that the requests violate state and federal privacy laws.

Some officials expressed concerns that the data could be used to identify potential noncitizens.