Case Summary
LWVC moved to intervene to defend voter privacy after the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) sued California Secretary of State Weber, demanding the state hand over the unredacted voter file, which includes registered voters’ full names, residential addresses, driver’s license numbers, and last four digits of their Social Security number. The DOJ claimed it had the right to access this data under its powers granted by the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the Help America Vote Act, and the National Voter Registration Act.
Since the beginning of the second Trump Administration, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued requests for states to provide registered voters’ personal data. This data could be shared with the Department of Homeland Security for criminal and immigration investigations.
California was among the states that received these requests. The DOJ requested data that included 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 Civil Rights Act of 1960, National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
California declined to provide the data, stating that (1) California law prohibited disclosure of the full, unredacted voter file; (2) the state was not required to hand over the requested data under the NVRA; and (3) California was fully compliant with the NVRA’s list maintenance provisions. The CA Secretary of State offered the DOJ the opportunity to inspect the data in person, provided privacy protections were in place.
On September 25, 2025, the DOJ filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The department sought an order requiring the CA Secretary of State to disclose the data and declaring that any state law barring disclosure was preempted by federal law.
On October 20, 2025, the League of Women Voters of California (LWVC), filed a motion to intervene in the case to defend voters’ personal information. LWVC argued disclosure of the data would threaten voter privacy and voter engagement. Additionally, LWVC alleged release of the data would impair its important voter registration and civic education work.
LWVCA is represented in this matter by the ACLU of Northern California, ACLU of Southern California, and the ACLU Voting Rights Project.
LWV Timeline
DOJ files lawsuit
The DOJ files a federal lawsuit, requesting the court order that California provide the full voter file containing private information. The DOJ asserts that this disclosure is required under the NVRA, HAVA, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960.
LWVC moves to intervene
LWVC asks to intervene as a defendant in the case, citing the necessity of protecting the privacy of voters and its members.
District court grants LWVC intervention
The district court grants LWVC's motion to intervene to defend voters.
LWVC files motion to dismiss
LWVC files a motion to dismiss the case because the plaintiffs did not state a claim for which relief can be granted. The motion also argues that the request for California's full and unredacted electronic voter file should be denied.
District court grants motions to dismiss
The district court grants LWVC's and the state's motions to dismiss, finding that the DOJ failed to satisfy the Civil Rights Act of 1960's requirements, and that the NVRA neither preempted California's privacy laws nor allowed the DOJ access to the sensitive voter data at issue.
DOJ appeals district court dismissal
DOJ appeals the district court's ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Ninth Circuit panel holds oral argument
A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit holds oral argument.