Arizona Judge Dismisses DOJ Voter Database Suit

A federal judge in Arizona dismissed a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit on Tuesday seeking the state's full voter registration database, ruling that federal law does not authorize the attorney general to demand such records.

U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich dismissed the case with prejudice, preventing the Justice Department from refiling it. In her order, Brnovich stated that Arizona's statewide voter registration list is not a document subject to request by the attorney general under Title III of the Civil Rights Act. She described any attempt to amend the complaint as legally futile.

The lawsuit stemmed from Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes' refusal in January to provide unredacted voter data, which includes voters' dates of birth, home addresses, driver's license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. Fontes argued the request exceeded federal authority and raised privacy concerns.

"This moment is a win for voter privacy," Fontes said in a statement. "I will never comply with illegal requests that put Arizona voters in harm's way."

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined Fontes in praising the decision. In a joint statement, they said the ruling vindicates...