A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from the Department of Justice (DOJ) aimed at obtaining Arizona’s voter registration lists. This ruling was issued by U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich, who was appointed during Trump’s presidency. She stated that, under federal law, Arizona’s voter registration list “is not a document subject to an attorney general request.”
Brnovich emphasized that the Justice Department did not adequately prove that the list qualified as such a document. “Thus, since the amendment lacks legal validity, the court is inclined to deny the attorney general’s request,” she noted in her decision.
The DOJ had filed the lawsuit in January, alleging that Secretary of State Adrian Fontes had “refused” to provide the necessary records back in August. At that time, the department sought a court order mandating then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to submit an “up-to-date electronic copy” of the statewide voter registration list, which includes details like names, birth dates, and identification numbers.
In a statement on Tuesday, Fontes and Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays expressed their approval of the ruling, noting that Brnovich “rightly dismissed” the DOJ’s case. They highlighted that the state’s voter database holds sensitive personal information about millions of voters, stating, “Arizona did the right thing by denying this request, and today’s ruling confirms that decision. We will continue to safeguard the privacy of Arizona voters against federal overreach.”
The Justice Department has sought voter registration lists from at least 48 states and Washington, D.C., during the Trump administration. Additionally, the DOJ is reportedly suing 30 states and the capital for their refusal to provide statewide registration lists, although some Republican-controlled states have indicated they might comply.
