6th Circuit Court Blocks DOJ Access to Michigan Voter Data

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a 2-1 decision that the United States Department of Justice cannot compel Michigan to disclose sensitive voter registration data, including birth dates, driver's license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. The court upheld a lower-court ruling by U.S. District Judge Hala Jarbou, concluding that Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 does not grant the federal government authority to demand such confidential information.

Judge Andre Mathis, writing for the majority, stated that the 1960 law was designed to prevent voting discrimination rather than to police whether individuals have voted. The court found that the government failed to specify the required basis and purpose for the request. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson had previously provided a public version of the voter rolls but refused the unredacted database, citing privacy concerns.

The Trump administration argued the data was necessary to address anomalies and ensure compliance with federal election laws. Conversely, Michigan officials alleged the government intended to create a national voter file and collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security to identify noncitizens who voted. This ruling is the first federal appellate decision in a broader campaign where the administration has filed lawsuits against 30 states and the District of Columbia. While 13 states have provided or promised their lists, others, including California and Arizona, have rejected similar federal requests.