Litigation
U.S. v. Evans
Mga Link at Download
Common Cause Granted Motion to Intervene in DOJ Lawsuit Demanding Washington, D.C. Voter File
Common Cause filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice against Washington, D.C. that demands it hand over its non-public voter file. A district court has granted our motion, meaning Common Cause is now party to the lawsuit, and we are seeking its dismissal.
What the DOJ Lawsuit Against Washington, D.C. Demands
By law, the District of Columbia, not the federal government, has the authority to maintain its voter file, which contains 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 from states nationwide 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.
Why Washington, D.C. Is Refusing to Hand Over Its Voter File
Most election officials, including those in Washington, D.C. have resisted pressure from the DOJ to hand over voter data. Now, they’re among the several defendants 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 Washington, D.C. was granted.
What’s Next in the Washington, D.C. Voter File Case?
Moving forward, the District of Columbia, 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.
How a Trump Administration Master Voter File Threatens Election Integrity
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.
How a Federal Voter Database Could Be Used to Purge Eligible Voters
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.
Why Immigrant and Minority Communities in Washington, D.C. Face Heightened Risk
And 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.
What does it mean that Common Cause was granted a motion to intervene in the DOJ's lawsuit against Washington, D.C.?
When a court grants a motion to intervene, Common Cause becomes an official party to the lawsuit — not just an outside observer. This allows Common Cause to actively participate in the legal proceedings alongside the District of Columbia and fight directly to have the DOJ’s lawsuit dismissed, blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to seize Washington, D.C.’s non-public voter file.
What sensitive information is in Washington, D.C.'s voter file, and why does it matter who controls it?
Washington, D.C.’s voter file contains highly sensitive personal data, including full names, home addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. Under existing law, the District of Columbia — not the federal government — has the authority to maintain and protect this data. If the Trump administration succeeds in collecting this file, it could be used to conduct targeted purges of eligible voters or assembled into a national master voter file that threatens election integrity ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Is the DOJ sharing the voter data it collects with the Department of Homeland Security?
Yes — the DOJ has already acknowledged sharing voter information with DHS. For Washington, D.C.’s immigrant communities and communities of color, this raises serious concerns that a federal voter database could intimidate eligible voters from registering or participating in elections out of fear that their personal information could be accessed by immigration enforcement agencies.
