Federal judge blocks DOJ bid for Maryland's confidential voter records

A federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit seeking access to Maryland's voter registration database, ruling that federal law does not authorize the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain confidential voter information maintained by the state.

The decision marks the ninth federal court ruling across the country rejecting the DOJ's effort to obtain state voter registration databases.

In a memorandum opinion issued last week, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher denied the DOJ's request for Maryland's digital statewide voter registration list and dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning the case cannot be refiled in the state under the same statute.

The lawsuit was one of roughly 30 filed nationwide as the department sought unredacted voter registration databases from states and Washington, D.C. Those in Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin were also unsuccessful.

The case began after the DOJ requested Maryland's database in July 2025, saying it needed the records to determine whether the state was properly maintaining its voter rolls. Maryland officials refused to provide information beyond what is available in the state's public voter file, including driver's license numbers, partial Social Security numbers and details from voter registration applications.

Gallagher ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1960 requires election officials to preserve voter registration records, but does not require states to hand over the databases they create and maintain.

"The (statewide voter registration list) is not such a record or paper," she wrote.

Gallagher added that the department's interpretation conflicted with federal election laws requiring states to continuously update voter rolls. Because voter registration databases are constantly changing, she wrote, applying the law to those databases would lead to an "absurd result."

It's unclear whether the Justice Department intends to appeal the decision. The agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Baltimore Sun.

Jared DeMarinis, Maryland's state administrator of elections, welcomed the ruling, writing on X that while the State Board of Elections is "a transparent and open agency," protecting the security and privacy of sensitive voter information "remains a top priority and will be vigorously protected."

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Maryland, which represented voters and advocacy groups that intervened in the case, called the decision "a victory for every Marylander who wants to participate in democracy without fear."

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 11:59 AM.