Stephanie Gallagher

A federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking Maryland's voter registration records, ruling that states are not required to provide such records under the Civil Rights Act. Maryland officials criticized the DOJ's request as a 'fishing expedition' for sensitive voter data, while the judge cited previous court decisions against similar federal demands in other states.

A federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking detailed voter data from Maryland, joining other courts in rejecting similar requests. The DOJ has lost in nine states, citing federal civil rights law, while some states have provided the data. The ruling emphasized privacy laws and the lack of necessity for federal oversight in voter registration compliance.

A federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking detailed voter records from Maryland, joining nine other states where similar efforts have failed. The DOJ argued the data was needed to enforce federal election laws, but the court ruled the request violated the Civil Rights Act's text. The dismissed case is part of broader legal battles in 30 states over access to voter information containing personal details like addresses and Social Security numbers.