Judge Tosses the Justice Department’s Demand for Illinois’ Full Voter Rolls — the 19th Such Loss

U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless of Illinois’ Central District rejected the Justice Department’s suit seeking full access to the state’s voter registration database, which covers more than 8 million residents. In a 14-page opinion issued Friday, July 31, 2026, she wrote that the department’s stated aim of confirming "Illinois’s compliance" with federal law was not a legitimate basis "as it does not relate to any suspected violation of voting." If the attorney general could "simply justify his demand with a statement of any purpose whatsoever," she wrote, it "would provide him with unfettered authority to demand voting records." The Chicago Sun-Times reported it was the 19th ruling nationwide against Trump Justice Department voter-data suits.

The department requested the database in July 2025; the State Board of Elections turned over names, addresses and ages at registration but withheld dates of birth, ID numbers and Social Security numbers. This line of cases is setting the practical limit on how far the federal government may reach into records the Constitution assigns states to administer.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said courts "have consistently ruled" the demands are unlawful. The Justice Department has not said whether it will appeal.