Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Seeking New Mexico Voter Data

U.S. District Judge Judith C. Herrera dismissed a lawsuit on July 14, 2026, filed by the United States Department of Justice that sought unredacted voter registration lists from New Mexico. The federal agency requested full personally identifiable information, including birth dates and Social Security numbers, as part of a wider legal effort targeting six states. Judge Herrera ruled that the DOJ failed to provide a factual basis or evidence that New Mexico violated the Help America Vote Act or the National Voter Registration Act.

Maggie Toulouse Oliver, the New Mexico Secretary of State, and Attorney General Raúl Torrez praised the ruling. State officials argued that the federal request lacked justification and posed a risk to the personal lives of New Mexicans. According to state officials, the DOJ has been unsuccessful in obtaining unredacted voter data in 14 similar cases across other states.

In her ruling, Judge Herrera noted that the outcome might have differed if the DOJ had identified statistical anomalies in registration data or specific issues with the state's maintenance practices.