A federal judge has dismissed a high-profile lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against Arizona, dealing a significant blow to a broader federal campaign aimed at obtaining voter registration data from states across the country.
In a ruling issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich dismissed the case with prejudice, effectively preventing the Justice Department from refiling the same claim. The lawsuit had sought to compel Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to provide an unredacted version of the state’s voter registration database, which includes sensitive personal information for nearly five million residents.
The legal dispute centered on the interpretation of a provision in the 1960 Civil Rights Act. Federal attorneys argued that the law grants the government authority to inspect voter registration “records,” which they claimed extended to Arizona’s full voter database. However, Arizona officials, represented by Attorney General Kris Mayes, contended that the request exceeded the scope of the statute.
Judge Brnovich agreed with the state’s position, drawing a clear distinction between individual voter registration forms and the compiled statewide database. While the former qualifies as records submitted by voters, she concluded that the latter is a product created by state officials and therefore falls outside the law’s intended reach.
In her opinion, Brnovich emphasized that the case hinged on statutory interpretation rather than political considerations. She criticized arguments that attempted to broaden the law’s meaning based on its connection to election oversight, writing that courts are not permitted to expand legal definitions beyond what the statute explicitly allows.
The decision aligns with similar rulings in other states, where federal courts have rejected comparable Justice Department lawsuits. Cases in California, Oregon, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island have all been dismissed, signaling a consistent judicial reluctance to endorse the DOJ’s expansive reading of federal law.
The Arizona ruling is part of a larger legal battle, as federal officials have pursued voter registration data from 29 states and the District of Columbia. In at least one instance, in Minnesota, the request has been linked to immigration enforcement efforts, adding another layer of controversy to the issue.
Judge Brnovich also determined that allowing the Justice Department to amend its complaint would be futile, underscoring the court’s firm stance on the matter. While the DOJ retains the option to appeal, the decision represents a notable setback in its ongoing effort to access state-managed voter information systems.
