What Is the DOJ NJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit?
The DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit is a federal civil case in which the United States sued New Jersey's chief election official to obtain the state's unredacted voter registration list. The case is United States v. Caldwell, No. 3:26-cv-02025, filed February 26, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
The defendant is Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, sued in his official capacity as Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State. The Justice Department wants every field in the list, including each voter's name, date of birth, address, and driver's license number or last four Social Security digits.
The case is not a class action or multidistrict litigation. The government is the only plaintiff, and civil rights groups and voters took part only as intervenors defending the state.
“This proceeding arises from the Attorney General’s investigation into New Jersey’s compliance with federal election law, particularly the CRA, NVRA, and HAVA. Section 301 of Title III of the CRA, the NVRA, and HAVA require States and other election officers to maintain and preserve certain records and papers relating to registration to voting or other acts requisite to voting in federal elections.”
Source: United States v. Caldwell, No. 3:26-cv-02025 (D.N.J. Feb. 26, 2026), Complaint, Document 1, paragraphs 10 and 11
Why Was the DOJ NJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit Filed?
The DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit was filed because New Jersey declined the Justice Department's written demand for its full statewide voter registration list. The Attorney General first asked for the list in a July 15, 2025 letter. A renewed demand under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 followed on August 14, 2025.
New Jersey refused in letters through January 2026 and cited its own privacy statutes. The Justice Department says it needs the list to check whether New Jersey meets its list maintenance duties under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.
The suit is one of many the department filed against states that resisted the same request. The ACLU says the demands appear aimed at building a national voter database. The Justice Department ties its effort to election integrity and has said it will act regardless of party.
The lawsuit was not filed over noncitizen voting. The complaint predates New Jersey's July 2026 disclosure about noncitizen registrations, which the Justice Department later raised as an added reason, as the evidence section below explains.
What Harms Does the DOJ NJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit Allege?
The DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit alleges one legal violation and raises two further harms that the parties describe. Only the first is pled as a claim. The second is the government's stated purpose, and the third is the harm that New Jersey and the intervening groups say disclosure would cause. Every item below is an allegation or argument, and a court has decided none of them on the merits.
Refusal to Produce the Voter List
A statewide voter registration list is the computerized database of registered voters that a state must maintain under federal law.
The complaint alleges that New Jersey's refusal to hand over the list violates Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, 52 U.S.C. section 20703. That is Count One, the only count in the case.
The government asks the court to declare the refusal unlawful and order production of the list with all fields within five days. It also asks for other election records the Attorney General demanded. The complaint does not request money damages.
Unverified List Maintenance Compliance
List maintenance is the routine work of removing voters who have died or moved from the registration rolls.
The Justice Department says it cannot confirm New Jersey follows its federal list maintenance duties without the full list. The August 14, 2025 demand named that purpose.
The complaint cites federal survey data to explain the concern. It says New Jersey reported a confirmation notice rate of 6.9 percent against a 19.5 percent national average, and a general removal rate of 4.3 percent against 9.1 percent. These figures support the government's stated reason for scrutiny and are not findings by any court.
Voter Privacy Risk
Voter privacy is the protection of personal identifiers, such as driver's license and Social Security digits, held in registration records.
New Jersey declined in a December 8, 2025 letter and cited state privacy laws, N.J. Stat. Ann. sections 47:1A-5.3 and 47:1A-1.1. Civil rights groups that intervened say disclosure could lead to voters being wrongly flagged and could discourage registration, especially among naturalized citizens.
The Justice Department's letter said it would keep the data under the Privacy Act and Section 304 of the Civil Rights Act. Press reports differ on how much weight the court gave privacy. The State Democracy Research Initiative tracker describes the dismissal as resting on the statute's text.
What Is the Current Status of the DOJ NJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit?
The current status of the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit is that the district court dismissed the case on July 29, 2026, and the Justice Department's appeal is pending in the Third Circuit. The case has one proceeding, so the table below tracks it in full.
United States v. Caldwell, No. 3:26-cv-02025 (D.N.J.)
Judge Zahid N. Quraishi dismissed the complaint in its entirety on July 29, 2026. He held that New Jersey's statewide voter registration list is not a "record or paper" under the Civil Rights Act because the state created it, rather than receiving it. That reasoning follows United States v. Benson, the Michigan case.
A footnote acknowledged the Justice Department's filing about New Jersey's registration errors and found it irrelevant. The department said it disagreed with the ruling and would appeal, according to Bloomberg Law.
| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey |
| Case Number | No. 3:26-cv-02025 (ZNQ-JTQ), appeal No. 26-3085 (Third Circuit) |
| Judge | Zahid N. Quraishi |
| Plaintiff | United States of America |
| Defendant | Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, official capacity (Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State) |
| Claim Pled | Count One, Civil Rights Act of 1960, 52 U.S.C. section 20703 |
| Filed | February 26, 2026 |
| District Court Result | Dismissed in its entirety, July 29, 2026 |
| Appeal Filed | August 17, 2026 |
| Class Action or MDL | No |
The Third Circuit had not assigned a panel when the State Democracy Research Initiative tracker last listed the case. The tracker says the Justice Department filed its opening brief early on September 14, 2026. New Jersey's response was due October 28, 2026, with the department's reply due 21 days after. This page could not confirm whether the state has filed.
No argument date, trial date or settlement date exists.
Is There a Settlement in the DOJ NJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit?
No. There is no settlement in the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit, and the government does not seek money damages.
The Justice Department asked for a declaration and an order to produce the voter list. The district court dismissed the case instead, so nothing has been paid or agreed, and no settlement date exists.
A separate Justice Department suit over voter data, against Oklahoma, did settle on March 24, 2026, with the state agreeing to provide its data in exchange for dismissal. That case involves a different state and does not change New Jersey's position.
Latest DOJ NJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit Updates
Here are the latest DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit updates: the district court dismissed the case on July 29, 2026, and the appeal remains pending in the Third Circuit as of November 2026. No settlement has been announced. The timeline below lists every confirmed development in order.
Full DOJ NJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit Timeline
Attorney General Asks New Jersey for Its Voter List
The U.S. Attorney General wrote to New Jersey on July 15, 2025, requesting the statewide voter registration list and citing the Help America Vote Act. The letter relied on 2024 federal election survey data about New Jersey's registration and removal rates.
Justice Department Renews the Demand Under the Civil Rights Act
A second letter from the Attorney General named the Civil Rights Act of 1960 as the basis and cited voter list maintenance compliance as the purpose. It asked for all fields, including date of birth and driver's license or partial Social Security digits.
New Jersey Attorney General's Office Denies the Demand
The former New Jersey Attorney General's Office answered the August 14 letter on August 21, 2025, denying the demand and asking the Justice Department to clarify its request.
Memorandum of Understanding Exchanged
New Jersey asked for the Justice Department's proposed memorandum of understanding on December 1, 2025, and the department emailed a copy the same day. The complaint notes the document is labeled confidential but versions had been published.
New Jersey Declines in Writing, Citing State Privacy Laws
A December 8, 2025 letter from New Jersey declined to provide the list, citing N.J. Stat. Ann. sections 47:1A-5.3 and 47:1A-1.1, and asked the department for more information.
Phone Call and Follow-Up Email on the Privacy Dispute
The Attorney General spoke with New Jersey's Attorney General's Office on December 19, 2025, and sent an email afterward arguing an unredacted list was necessary and addressing privacy concerns.
New Jersey Again Refuses the Demand
New Jersey's Attorney General's Office sent a letter on January 9, 2026, declining to comply with the Justice Department's demand.
Position Unchanged Under New Administration
After a courtesy email on January 26, 2026, New Jersey's Attorney General's Office confirmed on January 30 that the incoming administration kept the same position on the voter list demand.
Justice Department Files United States v. Caldwell
The Civil Rights Division filed the complaint in the District of New Jersey on February 26, 2026, as one of five suits that day against Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia and New Jersey. The department said the filings brought its total to 29 states and the District of Columbia.
League of Women Voters and Latino Action Network Move to Intervene
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey, Latino Action Network and one New Jersey voter filed an unopposed motion to intervene on March 4, 2026, represented by the ACLU and the ACLU of New Jersey.
Court Grants Intervention to NAACP Coalition
The District of New Jersey granted a motion by the NAACP, its New Jersey State Conference and several other groups to defend the case, according to an NAACP release dated April 23, 2026. The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, which filed the motion, later gave the date as April 24.
Governor Sherrill Discloses Noncitizen Registrations; Justice Department Demands Details
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said on July 21, 2026 that a Motor Vehicle Commission error had registered about 6,600 people who identified as noncitizens. The Justice Department wrote to her the same day demanding their names and other details within five business days, and she refused.
Justice Department Tells the Court About the Disclosure
The Justice Department filed a notice in United States v. Caldwell on July 28, 2026, arguing the governor's disclosure gave it an added basis for the voter list demand.
Judge Quraishi Dismisses the Lawsuit
Judge Zahid N. Quraishi dismissed United States v. Caldwell in its entirety on July 29, 2026, holding the statewide list is not a record covered by the Civil Rights Act. The ACLU counted the ruling as the 18th district court merits decision against the administration's voter data suits.
Justice Department Appeals to the Third Circuit
The Justice Department appealed the dismissal on August 17, 2026, and the Third Circuit docketed the appeal as No. 26-3085.
Justice Department Files Its Opening Appellate Brief
The department filed its opening brief in the Third Circuit early, on September 14, 2026, according to the State Democracy Research Initiative tracker.
What Evidence Matters in the DOJ NJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit?
The evidence that matters in the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit is the written correspondence between the Justice Department and New Jersey, because the Civil Rights Act claim turns on a written demand and a refusal. The complaint relies on the July 15 and August 14, 2025 letters and New Jersey's replies.
The complaint reads the statute to require only a demand with a stated basis and purpose, plus a refusal. It argues a court does not weigh the factual foundation for the demand.
New evidence arrived mid-case. On July 21, 2026, Governor Sherrill said about 6,600 people who self-identified as noncitizens were registered between June 2023 and June 2024, and roughly 400 voted. Fox News reported she later said fewer than 400 cast ballots.
The Justice Department asked for identifying details within five business days, the governor denied the request, and the department told the court it was an added basis for the list. The district court's footnote found the disclosure irrelevant to its statutory analysis.
Who Are the Parties in the DOJ NJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit?
The parties in the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit are the United States as plaintiff and New Jersey's chief election official as defendant, with civil rights groups and voters stepping in to defend the state. The Civil Rights Division's Voting Section brought the case.
| Party | Role | Source |
|---|---|---|
| United States of America (Civil Rights Division, Voting Section) | Plaintiff | Complaint caption |
| Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State | Defendant, official capacity | Complaint caption |
| State of New Jersey, via the Attorney General's Office and Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller | Defense counsel | Bloomberg Law |
| League of Women Voters of New Jersey, Latino Action Network and one voter | Moved to intervene as defendants (ACLU counsel) | ACLU |
| NAACP, NAACP New Jersey State Conference and other groups | Intervenor-defendants, granted April 2026 | NAACP release |
These roles come from the court caption and the groups' own announcements. The Justice Department says its role is to ensure transparency, voter roll maintenance and secure elections.
How Does the DOJ NJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit Compare to Related Cases?
The DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit is one of 31 federal suits the Justice Department filed against states and Washington, D.C. for voter registration data. A State Democracy Research Initiative tracker says no court has ruled for the department, 27 suits were dismissed on the merits and one settled.
| Matter | Court | Status |
|---|---|---|
| United States v. Caldwell, No. 3:26-cv-02025 (this case) | D.N.J.; Third Circuit No. 26-3085 | Dismissed July 29, 2026; appeal pending |
| United States v. Benson (Michigan) | Sixth Circuit | Dismissal affirmed June 24, 2026; rehearing denied August 14, 2026 |
| Justice Department suit against Oklahoma | Federal district court | Settled March 24, 2026 |
| Common Cause challenge to the voter data policy | Federal district court; D.C. Circuit appeal | Policy vacated nationwide October 9, 2026 |
| Republican National Committee v. Caldwell | Not stated in source | Filed September 22, 2026 |
Only the first row is the case this page tracks. The Republican National Committee's New Jersey suit is a separate case by a private party seeking voter roll maintenance records, so it does not affect the Justice Department's appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit about?
The DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit is about whether New Jersey must give the Justice Department its unredacted statewide voter registration list under the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Judge Zahid N. Quraishi dismissed the case on July 29, 2026, and the department appealed.
Is the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit a class action or MDL?
No. The DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit is a single civil case, United States v. Caldwell, brought by the United States, so it is neither a class action nor multidistrict litigation and no individuals can join as plaintiffs.
Did the court dismiss the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit?
Yes. The court dismissed the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit in its entirety on July 29, 2026, holding the statewide voter list is not a record covered by the Civil Rights Act. The Justice Department appealed to the Third Circuit on August 17, 2026.
Was the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit settled?
No. The DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit has not settled, and the government did not seek money damages. A separate Justice Department suit against Oklahoma settled on March 24, 2026.
What data did the Justice Department want in the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit?
The Justice Department wanted every field in New Jersey's voter registration list, including each voter's full name, date of birth, residential address, and driver's license number or last four Social Security digits.
Is the noncitizen registration issue part of the DOJ NJ voter rolls lawsuit?
Not originally. The complaint was filed in February 2026, before Governor Sherrill's July 21, 2026 disclosure of about 6,600 noncitizen registrations. The Justice Department raised the disclosure as an added basis, but the court found it irrelevant to its ruling.