SouthernWorldwide.com – A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump has ruled against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in a lawsuit concerning Maine’s voter roll data.
The judge dismissed the DOJ’s case against Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on Thursday. The lawsuit, initiated in September, alleged that Maine had violated federal election laws by refusing to provide federal authorities with voter data.
Secretary Bellows had argued that the DOJ failed to adequately explain its intended use for the requested data. This data included comprehensive voter roll information, such as names, driver’s license numbers, partial Social Security numbers, and full dates of birth for all Maine voters.
Bellows initially rejected the DOJ’s request in August. Subsequently, she filed a motion to dismiss the federal lawsuit in December.
Previously, Bellows had publicly stated, “The Gulf of Maine is awfully cold, but maybe that’s what the DOJ needs to cool down. So, here’s my answer to Trump’s DOJ today: Go jump in the Gulf of Maine.” This comment was made during a news conference in July.
On Thursday, Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker, a Trump appointee from 2018, granted Bellows’ motion, leading to the dismissal of the DOJ’s lawsuit.
Judge Walker stated that complying with the United States’ requests would require him to disregard traditional principles of federalism and their application in American elections.
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Following the ruling, Bellows expressed her approval. She stated that the decision affirms the principle that states, rather than the federal government, are responsible for managing elections.
“From the moment the Trump Administration sought every American’s voter data, I said no,” Bellows declared. “When they tried to bully me by suing Maine, I helped lead of coalition of states to fight back – and we’re winning.”
She further committed to continuing her defense of Mainers’ voting rights and privacy. Bellows emphasized that while the Trump administration and the DOJ may attempt to interfere with state-run elections, these efforts will not be successful.
Bellows also highlighted the constitutional framework, noting that states are the primary regulators and administrators of federal elections. This authority remains unless Congress enacts legislation that preempts this structure, and even then, such congressional power has its own limitations.
The DOJ has reportedly filed lawsuits against 30 states for refusing to provide unredacted voter registration lists. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, similar lawsuits have already been dismissed in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, and Rhode Island, in addition to Maine.
As of the latest reports, the DOJ has not issued any public comments regarding the dismissal of the Maine lawsuit.
