Massachusetts Federal Judge Shuts Down Trump DOJ’s Voter Roll Grab

A Massachusetts federal judge has dealt a sharp rebuke to the Trump Justice Department’s relentless push to access state voter rolls, dismissing the lawsuit against Secretary of State Bill Galvin for lacking any factual justification.

U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin, an Obama appointee, ruled that the DOJ’s demand violated the Civil Rights Act of 1960 because it failed to provide “the” factual basis required by law. Sorokin emphasized that the attorney general’s request must be grounded in clear evidence, not mere speculation or “conceivable” reasons.

“This case is one of more than two dozen brought by the United States against state election officials seeking production of statewide voter registration lists,” Sorokin wrote. “The United States’ Complaint fails for the simple reason that the Attorney General’s demand did not comply with Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, the statute on which it purports to rely.”

The Trump administration launched this aggressive probe in May 2025, demanding “full electronic voter files” from 40 states, including personal details such as names, birthdates, addresses, and partial Social Security numbers. The DOJ claimed this was necessary to root out voter fraud and protect election integrity, but courts have repeatedly found these claims unsubstantiated.

Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin and Attorney General Andrea Campbell hailed the ruling as a victory for voter privacy and democracy. They condemned the DOJ’s attempts as a “cruel and harmful” fishing expedition aimed at intimidating voters and undermining election security.

“The privacy of our voters is not up for negotiation,” Campbell said. “I will continue to defend the integrity and security of our elections from the Trump Administration’s cruel and harmful agenda.”

This ruling adds to a growing list of federal court decisions rejecting the Trump DOJ’s efforts to seize voter information without credible evidence. Similar cases in Oregon, California, Michigan, and Georgia have also been dismissed or blocked, with appeals ongoing.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who announced the lawsuit, insisted the DOJ would continue to push for access to voter data, claiming it is “our duty to protect American citizens from vote dilution.” But judges across the country have made clear that the law requires more than vague assertions to justify invading voters’ privacy.

As the Trump administration doubles down on its voter roll demands, courts are standing firm in defense of legal standards and the rights of states and voters. This latest dismissal is a clear message: baseless claims of fraud will not override the rule of law or the privacy of American voters.