Trump DOJ Faces 0–5 Collapse After Judge Rejects Rhode Island Voter Data Case
A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration’s latest attempt to obtain voter data, marking the Justice Department’s fifth straight loss in court.
The ruling blocks a lawsuit targeting Rhode Island and intensifies scrutiny on a broader federal push to access sensitive voter information nationwide.
According to Democracy Docket, the DOJ has sued dozens of states seeking unredacted voter rolls, including data like Social Security numbers, birthdates, and driver’s license information. The department argues the records are necessary to enforce federal election laws such as the National Voter Registration Act.
But courts across multiple states have repeatedly disagreed. Judges in California, Michigan, and Oregon have already dismissed similar cases, citing lack of legal authority and concerns about voter privacy and federal overreach.
In the Rhode Island case, U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy called the DOJ’s request a “fishing expedition,” raising further questions about the legal basis for the effort.
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“The request amounts to a fishing expedition,” McElroy wrote in the ruling.
The losses highlight a growing pattern. While some Republican-led states have complied with the data requests, others have refused, arguing the federal government is seeking information beyond what election laws require and could expose sensitive personal data.
The dispute also reflects a broader clash over election oversight, with states traditionally controlling voter systems and federal authorities limited in how they can intervene.
More cases are still pending, and the DOJ has signaled it may revise or refile some claims, meaning the legal fight over voter data access is likely to continue.
For now, courts are consistently siding with states resisting the requests.
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