Litigation
U.S. v. Demarinis
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Common Cause Granted Motion to Intervene in Lawsuit by DOJ Demanding Maryland Voter File
Common Cause filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice against Maryland that demands it hand over its voter file. A district court has granted our motion, meaning Common Cause is now party to the lawsuit, and we are seeking its dismissal.
Common Cause Joins Maryland Lawsuit to Block Federal Data Seizure
By law, states, not the federal government, have the authority to maintain their voter files, which contain sensitive information including full names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers. However, the Trump administration has been on a quest to collect these databases to assemble their own master voter file, a move that threatens the integrity of our elections and risks disenfranchising many Americans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Jared DeMarinis and the Defense of Maryland Election Integrity
Most of these states, including Maryland, have resisted pressure from the DOJ to hand over voter data. Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis responded with a detailed explanation of how county and state elections officials maintain voter rolls, protecting voting rights while also running safe and secure elections. Now, they’re among the several states being sued for the voter file by the Trump administration. In response, Common Cause has filed motions to intervene in several of these lawsuits. Our motion in Maryland was granted.
What’s next in this case?
Moving forward, the State of Maryland, Common Cause, and its partners are seeking the dismissal of this lawsuit, which would reject the Trump administrations attempt to collect this sensitive data.
What is at risk if the DOJ gets ahold of state voter files?
Trump has repeatedly signaled his willingness to undermine our democracy to stay in power. Whether continuing to spread disproven conspiracies about the 2020 election or calling on Republicans to “nationalize the voting,” he has shown time and again that winning is more important to him than a fair and free democracy.
Demanding state voter files is another attempt to undermine states’ statutory power to manage elections, and the disenfranchisement that the Trump administration could carry out with a master national voter file is deeply concerning.
A list like this could be used to conduct strategic and widespread purges of eligible voters from voter rolls, including purges that are targeted based on factors like location, age, and gender in an effort to gain a partisan advantage.
DOJ and DHS Data Sharing: Impacts on Maryland Immigrant Communities
Given the Department of Homeland Security’s cruel attacks on immigrants and communities of color, regardless of their citizenship status, a potential federal database like this poses even greater risk – already, the DOJ has acknowledged that it is sharing voter information with DHS. Knowing that the federal government has collected a database of sensitive information could intimidate potential voters from these communities and prevent them from registering to vote.
F.A.Q.
Why is Common Cause intervening in the DOJ lawsuit against Maryland?
Common Cause intervened to prevent the federal government from obtaining Maryland’s non-public voter files. As a formal party to the lawsuit, Common Cause is working alongside state officials to seek a full dismissal of the case, arguing that the DOJ’s demand violates state statutory authority and citizen privacy.
How is Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis protecting voter rolls?
Administrator Jared DeMarinis has provided detailed legal and technical evidence showing that Maryland’s current system for maintaining voter rolls is secure and complies with the law. He argues that the DOJ’s demand for unredacted data is an unnecessary overreach that threatens the existing protections for Maryland voters.
What sensitive information is contained in the Maryland voter file?
The voter file demanded by the DOJ includes highly private data such as full names, home addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. Common Cause and the State of Maryland contend that exposing this data to a federal “master file” puts residents at risk of identity theft and targeted intimidation.
What is the risk of a "Nationalized" voter file in the 2026 midterm elections?
Critics warn that a centralized federal database would allow for strategic voter purges. By cross-referencing state data at a national level, the administration could remove eligible voters from rolls based on age, location, or gender to gain a partisan advantage in the 2026 midterm elections.
How does DOJ and DHS data sharing affect voter registration in Maryland?
The DOJ has admitted to sharing state voter information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This cooperation raises fears of surveillance and retaliation among immigrant communities and communities of color, creating a “chilling effect” that may discourage eligible Marylanders from registering to vote.
