Federal judge dismisses attempt to access unredacted voter list

A federal judge on Thursday shut down an attempt by the Trump Administration to access Wisconsin’s unredacted voter registration list. The U.S. Department of Justice in December 2025 asked the Wisconsin Elections Commission to turn over the list containing identifying information like the voter’s driver’s license number and last four digits of their social security number. The DOJ claims it needs voter data to ensure states are following federal laws on voter roll accuracy. The WEC denied the DOJ’s request, citing state law that prohibits the commission from releasing personally identifiable voter information. The DOJ then filed a lawsuit demanding the list be turned over. The federal government tried to cite Title III of the 1960 Civil Rights Act as basis as justification for why the list should be turned over, however Judge James Peterson ruled that a voter registration list is not covered by Title III and dismissed the case with prejudice.