Michigan Voter Data Blocked

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that the Justice Department cannot force Michigan to turn over unredacted voter registration records containing sensitive personal data such as birthdates, partial Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers. The decision sided with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who refused the Trump administration’s demand for confidential voter-roll information. The ruling marks the highest-court setback so far for the administration’s broader push to obtain voter files from more than two dozen states. Judges found the DOJ lacked legal authority to compel the records under the civil rights law it invoked, allowing Michigan to keep non-public voter information confidential.