Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Attempt to Access Michigan Voter Data

Michigan will not release personal information of registered voters, as confirmed by a federal appeals court. The decision is another setback for the Trump administration, which has sought to collect key data from various states.

A 2-1 opinion from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a federal judge’s decision from Lansing, Michigan. This ruling determined that releasing details such as birth dates, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers is not mandated under the law referenced by the U.S. Justice Department.

Michigan is not alone in this stance. Courts have consistently ruled against similar attempts in states like Maryland, Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. In Georgia, a lawsuit was dismissed due to being filed in the wrong location, prompting the government to refile the case elsewhere.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson remarked that the federal government is entitled only to a list of registered voters, which is publicly available. The Trump administration argued that it needs voter information to ensure Michigan complies with federal election law, citing “anomalies” and other issues in a court filing.

Michigan’s legal team suggested that the administration has other motivations, including creating a national voter file and sharing data with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to determine if noncitizens have voted. Meanwhile, at least 13 states have agreed to or have provided their voter registration lists to federal authorities, including Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming, according to reporting by the Brennan Center for Justice and the Associated Press.