A federal judge has blocked the Justice Department from gaining access to New Jersey's unredacted voter rolls. The ruling was made by District Judge Zahid Quraishi, who cited concerns about the potential privacy implications for voters.
The Justice Department had sought access to the rolls under the Civil Rights Act, arguing that Title III granted federal authorities the right to obtain the lists. However, Quraishi disagreed, stating that the plain text of the law only applies to records that come into the possession of election officers, and does not extend to New Jersey's computerized voter registration list.
The ruling comes amid a controversy surrounding noncitizen voting in New Jersey. The state's governor, Mikie Sherrill, has admitted that a software error led to the mistaken registration of approximately 6,600 noncitizens through the state's Motor Vehicle System. The governor has ordered an investigation and is removing ineligible voters from the rolls.
Reports have also surfaced that roughly 75,000 noncitizens had been summoned for jury duty through state databases, prompting Republican calls for a wider investigation. The controversy has raised questions about accountability and the need for measures to prevent similar errors in the future.
