Case Summary
LWVC, LWV of Orange Coast, and LWV of North Orange County moved to intervene in a federal lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice demanding private voter data from Orange County, California. The Department asserted that it was entitled to access the data under its powers to enforce the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.
In June 2025, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) requested information from the Orange County Registrar of Voters, Robert Page, on voter registrations that had been canceled for failing to meet citizenship requirements. The registrar provided some information, but, citing state laws, withheld certain information, including California driver’s license and identification card numbers, social security numbers, California Secretary of State-assigned voter identification numbers, language preference, and images of registrants’ signatures.
After further discussions, the DOJ filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on June 25, 2025. The suit alleged that Orange County’s failure to turn over the requested data violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) list maintenance and public records provisions and the voter list maintenance provisions of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
On November 14, 2025, the League of Women Voters of California (LWVC), League of Women Voters of Orange Coast (LWVOC), and the League of Women Voters of North Orange County (LWVNOC) moved to intervene as defendants in the case to protect voter privacy.
LWVC, LWVOC, and LWVNOC were represented in this matter by the ACLU, ACLU of Southern California, and ACLU of Northern California.
LWV Timeline
DOJ files lawsuit against Orange County
The DOJ files a lawsuit against the Orange County Registrar of Voters, asserting the office’s refusal to hand over private voter data under state law violates the NVRA and HAVA.
The League moves to intervene
LWVC, LWVOC, and LWVNOC move to intervene as defendants in the case, seeking to defend voter privacy.
District court stays case
The district court stays the case until the DOJ's lawsuit against the California Secretary of State, USA v. Weber, is resolved.