California DOJ Voter Data Access Challenge

An anti-voting lawsuit seeking to compel California to provide the DOJ with access to its statewide voter registration data. 

Background

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against California and Secretary of State Shirley Weber (D) for refusing to provide information on the removal of ineligible individuals and an unredacted copy of its statewide voter registration list. On July 10, the DOJ sent a letter to Shirley requesting, among other things, a current copy of the statewide voter registration list and information on individuals removed from the voter rolls due to death or non-citizenship. Weber responded on Aug. 8, citing privacy concerns but offering to allow DOJ officials to inspect the unredacted database in person by appointment. The DOJ argues that this falls short of federal requirements and violates the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960. The DOJ is asking the court to compel California to produce the requested records, including the state’s full voter list with each voter’s date of birth, address and other sensitive information. 

Why It Matters

This marks the latest escalation in the DOJ’s efforts to obtain sensitive voter registration data from states across the country. In recent months, the DOJ has intensified its demands for voter information as part of a broader, politically charged push aimed at pressuring states to remove voters from the rolls and advancing the Trump administration’s unfounded claims of widespread illegal voting. The DOJ has now sued 24 states, plus Washington, D.C. — California, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Massachusetts, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Arizona, Virginia and Washington — all of which have refused to hand over unredacted voter files containing highly sensitive personal information.

Latest Updates

• Jan. 15, 2026: The court dismissed the lawsuit.
• Dec. 5, 2025: DOJ filed an amended notice of motion for order to produce records.
• Dec. 4, 2025: Hearing was held. The judge denied the DOJ’s motion to compel on due process grounds.
• Dec. 1, 2025: The DOJ filed a motion to compel production of records.
• Nov. 19, 2025: The court granted the NAACP, NAACP-CA/HI, SIREN and the League of Women Voters’ motions to intervene as defendants.
• Nov. 7, 2025: California filed a motion to dismiss.
• Oct. 20, 2025: The League of Women Voters of California filed a motion to intervene as defendants.
• Oct. 7. 2025: Pro-voting groups, including the NAACP, filed a motion to intervene as defendants. They argue that handing over sensitive voter data would violate state privacy laws and chill voter participation, particularly among Black and immigrant voters.
• Oct. 1, 2025: Because of the government shutdown, the DOJ has requested a pause in proceedings.
• Sept. 25, 2025: The DOJ filed its complaint.

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