Common Cause v. Department of Justice
Case Overview
Common Cause sued the Department of Justice over its attempt to gain access to unredacted statewide voter registration lists from nearly every state and Washington, D.C.
The Application
The DOJ sought unredacted voter rolls from nearly every state and D.C., asserting authority to access comprehensive personal voter data. Common Cause challenges this action as exceeding the DOJ's statutory mandate, violating privacy protections, and encroaching on state sovereignty over election administration.
The Conclusion
The case remains active in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before Judge Sooknanan with no final ruling yet issued; the litigation addresses the scope of federal agency authority over state-administered voter registration systems.
Case Analysis
Overview
Common Cause sued the Department of Justice over its attempt to gain access to unredacted statewide voter registration lists from nearly every state and Washington, D.C.
Issue
Whether the Department of Justice has statutory authority to request and obtain unredacted statewide voter registration lists from substantially all states and whether such requests comply with federal privacy protections and principles of federalism in election administration.
Rule
Agencies possess only those powers delegated by statute; voter registration data is generally protected from disclosure under state and federal privacy laws absent specific statutory authorization; states retain primary authority over voter registration systems under the Elections Clause and the Tenth Amendment.
Analysis
The DOJ sought unredacted voter rolls from nearly every state and D.C., asserting authority to access comprehensive personal voter data. Common Cause challenges this action as exceeding the DOJ's statutory mandate, violating privacy protections, and encroaching on state sovereignty over election administration.
Conclusion
The case remains active in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before Judge Sooknanan with no final ruling yet issued; the litigation addresses the scope of federal agency authority over state-administered voter registration systems.
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