Case Summary
LWVNJ and co-intervenors filed a motion to intervene opposing the United States Department of Justice’s lawsuit demanding disclosure of New Jersey voters’ private information. LWVNJ argued the DOJ had no right to access such information under federal law.
Since the beginning of the second Trump Administration, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) repeatedly issued demands for states to disclose registered voters’ personal data. This data could be shared with the Department of Homeland Security for criminal and immigration investigations.
New Jersey was among the states that received these requests. The DOJ requested the full, unredacted statewide voter registration list, including voters’ full name, date of birth, residential address, and either their state driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number. The DOJ claimed the data was necessary to ensure compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and later asserted the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) entitled it to the unredacted list.
New Jersey declined to provide the data, stating that the DOJ lacked authority under federal law to make such demands.
In response, on February 26, 2026, the DOJ filed a federal lawsuit against New Jersey Secretary of State Dale Caldwell in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The Department sought an order requiring the Secretary of State to disclose the full, unredacted statewide voter registration list.
On March 4, 2026, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey (LWVNJ), the Latino Action Network, and one individual voter moved to intervene on behalf of New Jersey voters defending voter privacy. The brief explained that the DOJ’s demand threatened voter privacy and could disenfranchise eligible voters. It also cited public reporting indicating the DOJ intended to create a national voter database that would likely be used to purge voters from state voter rolls. The proposed intervenors argued that this federal overreach violated both federal and New Jersey state law.
LWVNJ is represented in this matter by the ACLU of NJ and the ACLU Voting Rights Project.
LWV Timeline
DOJ files lawsuit
The DOJ files a federal lawsuit, demanding New Jersey hand over the full, unredacted statewide voter registration list, claiming it is entitled to the information under the NVRA, HAVA, and Civil Rights Act of 1960.
LWVNJ moves to intervene
LWVNJ and co-intervenors file a motion to intervene to protect voter privacy. The brief argues federal law does not entitle the DOJ to the unredacted statewide voter registration list.