Federal Judge Blocks Justice Department’s Voter Registration Record Collection
A federal judge in Washington has blocked the Justice Department's nationwide effort to collect states' voter registration records, ruling the program exceeded its legal authority and violated federal privacy laws.
Grand Rapids Kalamazoo Battle Creek, MI, October 9, 2026 — A federal judge in Washington has issued a ruling that halts the U.S. Justice Department’s nationwide initiative to collect states’ voter registration records. The decision, made on undisclosed grounds related to legal authority and privacy laws, effectively blocks the department’s program.
The judge found that the Justice Department’s program exceeded its authorized legal scope. Additionally, the ruling determined that the initiative violated federal privacy laws. Specific details regarding the exact legal authority that was overstepped or the precise federal privacy statutes infringed upon were not immediately available.
The Justice Department’s effort aimed to gather voter registration information from states across the country. The program’s objective and the specific mechanisms for data collection were not detailed in the ruling or the available information. The legal challenge that led to this injunction was brought before the federal court in Washington.
The ruling represents a significant setback for the Justice Department’s data collection efforts concerning voter information. The contractor responsible for carrying out the collection was not identified in the information provided. The specific date of the judge’s ruling was also not disclosed.
With this injunction, the Justice Department is prevented from continuing its nationwide collection of voter registration records. The exact next steps for the Justice Department or any potential appeals were not immediately clear. The impact of this decision on future data collection initiatives by federal agencies remains to be seen.
Story summarized from the original created by Finya Swai on thehill.com, see more information here.
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