(WASHINGTON, January 16, 2026) – A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from obtaining voter roll data from California and Oregon, dealing a setback to the Justice Department’s efforts to investigate alleged voter fraud.
A judge halted the Trump administration’s access to California and Oregon voter data,rejecting claims of a need to investigate alleged widespread voter fraud.
- A judge blocked the trump administration from accessing California’s full voter rolls.
- The Justice Department sought the data under the guise of investigating alleged voter fraud.
- Similar efforts to obtain voter data from Oregon have also been blocked.
Judge Mendez of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled against the Justice Department’s request for California voter data, according to the Washington Post. The Justice Department had requested the data as part of a probe into alleged widespread voter fraud, a claim repeatedly made by former President Donald Trump.
The Justice Department argued it needed the data to assess whether non-citizens were illegally voting, but Judge Mendez found the request overly broad and perhaps intrusive, the CNN reported. The judge questioned the legal basis for the request, especially the department’s reliance on the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, also known as the “Motor Voter” law.
Oregon Voter Data Also Protected
A similar effort to obtain voter data from Oregon has also been blocked, OregonLive.com reported.The court in Oregon also raised concerns about the scope of the request and the potential for misuse of sensitive voter details.
What This Means for You
these rulings protect the privacy of California and Oregon voters and limit the Trump administration’s ability to pursue unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud.The decisions underscore the importance of safeguarding voter data and ensuring that any investigations into election integrity are conducted within legal boundaries. The Justice Department’s attempts to leverage the National Voter Registration Act to access voter information have been challenged, raising questions about the appropriate use of the law.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by the Washington Post, CNN, the New York times, Democracy Docket, and OregonLive.com and added independent analysis and context.
