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2026-08-26

This month

U.S. Election Security Developments and Court Rulings on Voting Administration (Last 72 Hours)

The most significant development in this window is the Justice Department's ongoing litigation against 29 states and the District of Columbia over demands for complete, unredacted voter registration l…

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RESEARCH: U.S. Election Security Developments and Court Rulings on Voting Administration (Last 72 Hours)

Summary

The most significant development in this window is the Justice Department's ongoing litigation against 29 states and the District of Columbia over demands for complete, unredacted voter registration lists. Federal district courts have dismissed DOJ lawsuits against California, Michigan, and Oregon, with the California court additionally finding the demands violate federal privacy laws; the Justice Department has appealed all three decisions. The White House also released numerous declassified documents related to election security, including intelligence assessments on foreign threats to election infrastructure and allegations of voter data compromises.

Key Developments

  • 2026-03-06 — The University of Wisconsin State Democracy Research Initiative updated its report documenting that the Justice Department is suing 29 states and the District of Columbia over demands for complete voter registration data. Federal district courts have dismissed the DOJ's lawsuits against California, Michigan, and Oregon, holding that federal law does not require states to turn over sensitive voter data; the California court also found the demands violate federal privacy laws. The Justice Department has appealed all three decisions. Can the Federal Government Force States to Hand Over Citizens' Voter Information?
  • 2026-03-06 — The same report notes that the Justice Department has indicated only 10 states—including Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Wyoming—have either provided their full voter registration lists or indicated plans to do so, out of more than 40 states that received demands. Can the Federal Government Force States to Hand Over Citizens' Voter Information?
  • 2026-03-06 — The report also documents that the Justice Department has filed lawsuits in federal court against 24 states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin—plus D.C., to compel turnover of complete voter registration lists, with a similar case pending against Orange County, California. Can the Federal Government Force States to Hand Over Citizens' Voter Information?
  • 2026-03-06 — The report notes that the Justice Department's demands, which began with letters to election administrators in spring 2025, seek voter registration lists containing names, registration addresses, birthdates, driver's license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers—information protected from public disclosure under laws in every state. Can the Federal Government Force States to Hand Over Citizens' Voter Information?
  • 2026-03-06 — The report references that in late October 2025, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued a video message stating the Justice Department was "unlawfully demanding" private voter information, noting that other secretaries of state from both parties have raised similar concerns. Can the Federal Government Force States to Hand Over Citizens' Voter Information?
  • 2025-03-25 — President Trump signed Executive Order 14248, "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections," directing the Election Assistance Commission to require documentary proof of citizenship on the national mail voter registration form, instructing the DHS Secretary to review states' publicly available voter registration lists against federal immigration databases, and directing the Attorney General to prioritize enforcement of federal statutes prohibiting non-citizens from registering to vote or voting. Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections – The White House
  • 2025-03-25 — Executive Order 14248 also directed the EAC to amend the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 to require voter-verifiable paper records and prohibit use of ballots where votes are contained within barcodes or quick-response codes in the vote counting process except for disability accommodations, and to rescind prior certifications of voting equipment within 180 days. Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections – The White House
  • 2025-03-25 — The executive order directed the Commissioner of Social Security to make available the Social Security Number Verification Service, the Death Master File, and other federal databases to all state and local election officials for eligibility verification, and directed the Secretary of Defense to update the Federal Post Card Application to require documentary proof of citizenship. Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections – The White House

Sources