Washington court rejects DOJ demand for unredacted voter rolls, marking 20th consecutive loss in Trump's 31-state campaign

A federal judge in Washington state rejected the Trump Department of Justice's demand to obtain unredacted voter rolls containing sensitive personal data, marking the 20th consecutive court loss for the administration's 31-state campaign. The ruling, issued on August 6, 2026, found the DOJ's reliance on the Help America Vote Act and National Voter Registration Act to be without legal authority under Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Federal courts have now unanimously denied the DOJ's motions from 20 states and DC, with one appellate court also rejecting the theory. The administration claims the data is needed to assess list maintenance, but voting rights groups and state officials view the lawsuits as a pretext to construct a national voter database for voter intimidation and suppression.

“Rather than addressing any real problem, these lawsuits seek private voter information that is protected under state law. The DOJ's demands for complete voter rolls are another example of federal overreach and an attempt to exert control over our elections.” — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs Quote verified against source