Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Over Georgia Voter Lists

U.S. District Judge Victoria Marie Calvert dismissed a lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice that sought to compel Georgia to release unredacted voter registration lists. The Justice Department demanded access to sensitive data, including birth dates, driver's license numbers, and Social Security numbers, to verify citizenship and ensure federal election law compliance.

Victoria Marie Calvert ruled that federal statutes, including the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and Title III of the Civil Rights Act, do not preempt Georgia's voter privacy laws. The court found that the state's current list-maintenance efforts already demonstrate compliance with federal requirements and do not necessitate the disclosure of confidential information.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger described the decision as a legal victory for voter privacy. He maintained that he would not break the law to surrender the sensitive personal information of Georgia voters.