Ninth Circuit likely adds to DOJ losing streak over state voter roll lawsuits

A federal appeals court sharply questioned the Department of Justice on Tuesday over its purpose and authority for obtaining voter information from California and Oregon, as the DOJ attempts to end its legal losing streak for its multiple efforts to collect state voter roll information.

In dozens of lawsuits filed across the country, the DOJ has claimed the National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, and Civil Rights Act of 1960 require states to turn over the full state voter registration lists, including voters’ personal information, such as Social Security numbers and driver’s license information, as part of voter roll maintenance. In various federal district courts, the Trump administration’s efforts have been unsuccessful, with district court judges tossing lawsuits filed by the DOJ against six states, including California and Oregon.

A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit became the latest court to hear arguments in the