Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking detailed information ...
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turnto10.comHere’s the latest on Rhode Island voter data litigation as of mid-April 2026:
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The DOJ’s bid to obtain Rhode Island’s detailed voter data was rejected by U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy. The court found no authority under federal election laws to compel production of non-public voter data, effectively blocking the federal government’s request for unredacted records. This ruling aligns with similar outcomes in other states where courts cautioned against broad federal access to private voter information. [court:2026-04-16; ][4][7]
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Rhode Island officials had offered only the publicly available voter list, citing privacy and state sovereignty over election administration for opposing the broader data request. The judge’s decision underscored that protecting voter privacy and upholding state election authority can constrain federal data-collection efforts in this context.[2][3]
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Earlier in December 2025, the DOJ filed suit after Rhode Island initially declined to hand over non-public data, arguing federal laws authorized such data access for civil rights and election integrity investigations. Public reporting indicated the DOJ sought data under statutes related to the Civil Rights Act, HAVA, and the NVRA, but Rhode Island maintained strong privacy protections.[1][3]
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The outcome mirrors a broader pattern in which several federal court decisions have limited DOJ access to sensitive voter information across multiple states, reinforcing that list maintenance and voter rolls remain largely within state control. Some outlets reported ongoing DOJ litigation in multiple states, but Rhode Island’s case has been definitively resolved in favor of the state.[6][2][4]
If you’d like, I can pull the exact court documents or provide a brief timeline of key filings and rulings with direct quotes. I can also summarize how this decision might affect future federal access requests and state privacy protections. Please tell me which format you prefer (timeline, bullet timeline, or a short brief).
Citations:
- Court ruling and date: Judge Mary McElroy’s April 16, 2026 decision denying the DOJ’s data request.[2]
- Background on the December 2025 DOJ suit and Rhode Island’s response.[3][1]
- Context on privacy and state authority considerations in related coverage and rulings.[7][3][4]