Federal Court Blocks DOJ Bid for Rhode Island Voter Data
A federal judge dismissed the DOJ's case seeking Rhode Island's unredacted voter registration data.
Why it matters: The ruling strengthens state control over voter data and sets a precedent for privacy compliance amid federal inquiries. Legal teams must navigate the evolving landscape of data requests in election-related cases, balancing privacy, state authority, and regulatory demands.
- Judge Mary McElroy dismissed the DOJ’s lawsuit on April 17, 2026.
- The DOJ sought unredacted voter data including Social Security and driver's license numbers.
- Similar lawsuits were dismissed in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Oregon.
- At least 12 states have provided detailed voter lists to the DOJ; over 30 were sued.
On April 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy dismissed the Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit demanding unredacted voter registration data from Rhode Island. The requested records included highly sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers and driver's license data.
- Judge McElroy called the DOJ's request a "fishing expedition" and stated, "Neither the National Voter Registration Act nor the Help America Vote Act authorize DOJ to conduct the kind of fishing expedition...."
- The DOJ had pursued similar lawsuits in at least 30 states and the District of Columbia, aiming to access complete voter registration lists under the justification of strengthening election security and verifying voter eligibility.
- Federal judges have dismissed comparable DOJ lawsuits in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Oregon in recent months.
- Despite resistance, at least 12 states—including Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, and Texas—have agreed to provide their detailed voter registration lists to the DOJ.
- The DOJ acknowledged plans to share any unredacted voter data with the Department of Homeland Security to check voter citizenship status, raising further privacy concerns.
Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore criticized the DOJ's approach, stating, "The executive branch seems to have no problem taking actions that are clear Constitutional overreaches, regularly...."
The outcome in Rhode Island reflects a growing judicial trend against broad federal access to sensitive voter information, reaffirming state sovereignty over election administration and data privacy protections.
By the numbers:
- April 17, 2026 — Date of Judge McElroy’s ruling
- 30+ — States sued by DOJ for unredacted voter data
- 12+ — States that agreed to provide voter lists to DOJ