Judge rejects DOJ push for Rhode Island voter information

A federal judge on Friday tossed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit aiming to force Rhode Island to hand over its voter information as part of the Trump administration’s push to acquire voter data from several states.

Rhode Island U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy wrote that federal law does not allow the DOJ “to conduct the kind of fishing expedition it seeks here,” siding with Rhode Island election officials. She added that the DOJ did not provide evidence to suggest that Rhode Island violated election law.

McElroy, a Trump appointee, wrote that she sided with the similar decision in Oregon. That decision ruled that the DOJ was not entitled to unredacted voter registration lists.

“Absent from the demand are any factual allegations suggesting that Rhode Island may be violating the list maintenance requirements,” she said in her ruling.

Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore (D) praised McElroy’s decision. He said in a statement that the Trump administration “seems to have no problem taking actions that are clear Constitutional overreaches, regularly meddling in responsibilities that are the rights of the states.”

“Today’s decision affirms our position: the United States Department of Justice has no legal right to – or need for – the personally-identifiable information in our voter file,” he said. “Voter list maintenance is a responsibility entrusted to the states, and I remain confident in the steps we take here in Rhode Island to keep our list as accurate as possible.”

The Hill reached out to the DOJ for comment.

The DOJ called for the voter lists as it investigated Rhode Island’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which allowed Americans to register to vote when they apply for a driver’s license.

The DOJ sued at least 30 states, as well as Washington, D.C., in December demanding their respective voter data. This data includes birth dates, names and partial Social Security numbers.

At least 12 states have given or said they will give the DOJ their voter registration lists, according to a tracker operated by the Brennan Center for Justice.

The department stated after it lost a similar suit against Massachusetts earlier this month that it had “sweeping powers” to access the voter data and that, if states fail to comply, courts have a “limited, albeit vital, role” in directing election officers on behalf of the administration to produce the records. The DOJ cited the Civil Rights Act as being intended to unearth alleged election law violations.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

More Court Battles News

POTUS vs Pontiff: Trump feud with Pope Leo marks unprecedented moment

Iran says Strait of Hormuz will close again amid US blockade

Watch live: Trump signs executive order from White House

GOP Sen. Katie Britt: House-passed bill to extend Haitian refugee status DOA in ...

Iran restores ‘strict management’ of Hormuz Strait as US blockade persists

Senate GOP losing patience with Speaker Johnson as DHS faces crisis

Iranian state news outlet questions foreign minister’s ‘unexpected tweet’ ...

White House, FBI looking into case of missing scientists: ‘No stone will be ...

Judge rejects Trump lawsuit to block Hawaii from filing climate lawsuit 

Trump warns US may ‘drop bombs again’ if no Iran deal by ceasefire deadline

Collins, Tillis signal shift on Trump war powers if Iran war hits 60-day mark

Trump NRA snub fuels questions about key GOP ally’s influence

Popular weight loss medications linked to hidden side effects, study finds

Hegseth shares air rescue group’s ‘Pulp Fiction’ prayer at Pentagon ...

Trump’s pick to lead CDC signals shift away from vaccine skepticism

Lutnick blasts Canada on trade: 'They suck'

White House budget director Vought declines to tell senators cost of Iran war

Trump revels in Tucker Carlson’s ‘freefall’ in GOP opinion polling 

© The Hill