Judge Dismisses the Justice Department's Suit for New Jersey's Unredacted Voter Files — the 18th Such Ruling Against the Administration

U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit seeking New Jersey's unredacted voter files on July 29, 2026, granting the state's motion to dismiss. Quraishi ruled that the department lacked authority to compel New Jersey to hand over the records, writing that "the Constitution's architects chose to delegate election administration to the states, recognizing local governments have the deepest understanding of their constituents' circumstances." According to the Brennan Center for Justice, he is the 18th federal district judge to rule against the administration on voter-data demands.

The suit is one of more than two dozen the administration has filed against states ahead of the November midterms. It predates New Jersey's disclosure last week that about 6,600 noncitizens had been registered through a motor vehicle system glitch between June 2023 and June 2024; Gov. Mikie Sherrill said fewer than 400 cast ballots and there was no evidence of any effect on results. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon had sought names, birth dates, nationalities and home addresses; Sherrill formally refused on July 28, citing state and federal privacy laws.

Dhillon said the department would pursue the information "through all legal means." The Inquirer reported the administration is expected to appeal, as it is doing in a parallel Pennsylvania case.