Case Summary
LWVMI filed a motion to intervene on behalf of voters in a lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) against the state of Michigan for refusing to provide the DOJ with sensitive voter information. LWVMI intervened on behalf of Michiganders and their right to keep their personal data private.
In the summer of 2025, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) sent demands to more than 30 states, including Michigan, requesting voter data. The DOJ asked Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for a copy of the state’s non-public voter registration list, which includes personal identifying information and details on the state’s compliance with voter list maintenance. Secretary Benson refused to provide a copy of the voter list due to privacy concerns over the disclosure of confidential data.
On September 25, 2025, in response to the refusal to provide data, the United States sued the state of Michigan and Secretary Benson in the United States District Court for the District of Michigan, alleging violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), Civil Rights Act of 1960, and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) The DOJ asked the court to force Michigan to produce the requested records. Thus far, the DOJ has sued seven other states for refusal to hand over state voter data: California, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
On September 30, 2025, the Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans and two individuals filed a motion to intervene as defendants in the case. On October 1, 2025, the United States moved to stay (pause) the case due to the government shutdown, which the court granted in part and denied in part.
On October 30, 2025, the League of Women Voters of Michigan (LWVMI) filed a motion to intervene in the case as a defendant. The organization alleged its members’ personal information may be unlawfully shared if the DOJ's demands were granted. LWVMI also argued that the federal collection of personal data could harm the organization’s ability to register voters in the future.
On December 9, 2025, LWVMI's motion to intervene was denied by the district court. The court stated its grant of intervention to the Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans means granting LWVMI intervention is unnecessary, since the two organizations' interests in the case are effectively identical in its view.
LWVMI is represented in this matter by Campaign Legal Center, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School, and Michigan law firm Goodman Acker.
LWV Timeline
DOJ files lawsuit against Michigan
The United States Department of Justice sues Michigan and its Secretary of State for refusing to turn over Michiganders’ personal voter data. The federal government alleges violations of the NVRA, HAVA, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960.
LWVMI files motion to intervene
LWVMI moves to intervene as a defendant on behalf of Michigan voters.
District court denies LWVMI motion to intervene
The district court denies LWVMI's motion to intervene, stating its grant of intervention to another group, Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans, means granting LWVMI intervention is unnecessary, since the two organizations' interests in the case were effectively identical in its view.
LWVMI files amicus brief
LWVMI files an amicus brief, arguing the Department of Justice has no authority to demand the non-public voter registration list under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 or the NVRA.
District court grants motions to dismiss
The district court grants the state and intervenor-defendants' motions to dismiss, finding that federal law does not require states to disclose voter registration lists to the federal government. The court also denied LWVMI's amicus brief as moot.
DOJ appeals dismissal
The DOJ appeals the district court's ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Sixth Circuit panel hears oral argument
A three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit hears oral argument in the DOJ's appeal of the district court's ruling.