Federal Appeals Court Upholds Michigan’s Privacy on Voter Information
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Michigan on Wednesday, allowing the state to protect the personal information of registered voters. This decision marks another setback for the Trump administration, which has sought detailed voter information from numerous states.
According to the court’s 2-1 opinion, Michigan is not required to release birth dates, driver’s license numbers, or partial Social Security numbers under the law cited by the U.S. Justice Department. A federal judge in Lansing, Michigan, had previously ruled in the state’s favor.
Similar rulings have been made in other states, including Maryland, Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. In Georgia, a case was dismissed due to filing in an incorrect jurisdiction, leading to a refile.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson emphasized that the federal government is only entitled to a general list of registered voters, akin to what any member of the public can access.
The Trump administration argued that obtaining personal voter details was crucial for verifying Michigan’s adherence to federal election laws, citing various “anomalies” and grievances in a court document.
Michigan’s legal representatives, however, suggested that the federal government has ulterior motives, such as creating a national voter database and coordinating with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to determine if noncitizens have registered or voted.
As reported by the Brennan Center for Justice and the Associated Press, at least 13 states have agreed or are in the process of handing over their voter registration lists to the federal government. These states include Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming.
