The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 13, 2026
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October 12, 2026 11:55 amWASHINGTON, DC — The Trump Department of Justice is now zero for 26 in lawsuits attempting to compel states to turn over voter data for the SAVE system database. But 18 states complied, and a DC federal court ruled October 9th that how DOJ used that data was illegal. For the moment, DOJ’s data collection is blocked nationwide.
In the case brought by Common Cause and four affected voters, U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan took issue with the government’s arguments that it wasn’t subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, and the Administrative Procedure Act. She writes in the opinion:
“They suggest that every American citizen who registers to vote is the subject of a voter fraud investigation underway in the Civil Rights Division simply because they registered to vote. And the Defendants downplay the risk of voter disenfranchisement—despite knowingly relying on an inaccurate database to check voter eligibility,” UNQUOTE.
The judge later continued, “Congress has left that authority where our Constitution has always placed it: with the states. DOJ cannot run roughshod over longstanding laws that were carefully crafted to protect the rights of the American people,” UNQUOTE.
The decision blocks, at least through an appeal, the DOJ’s attempt to acquire private voter data and use it to determine voter eligibility.
We’ve posted the opinion at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Via Court Listener, https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.291580/gov.uscourts.dcd.291580.51.0_1.pdf
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia – COMMON CAUSE, et al., Plaintiffs, v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, et al., Defendants.
Common Cause – Federal Court Sides with Common Cause and Voters, Ruling DOJ Data Demands Violate Voter Privacy, States’ Election Authority
The Hill – Federal judge: DOJ cannot request states’ voter lists for eligibility database
Prof. Justin Levitt, LMU Loyola Law School, Los Angeles via Election Law Blog – DOJ’s latest bellyflop in its voter file quest is the biggest yet
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – What Happened to the 16,000 Nevada Noncitizen Voters Announced by Trump’s DHS Secretary in July? Turns Out There Weren’t Any.
American Democracy Minute – (August) Let’s Just Say the Trump Administration’s Quest to Obtain State Voter Data Has Not Gone Well. DOJ is now 0 for 22, With 9 More Cases Pending.
Groups Taking Action:
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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