Feds demand Michigan voter registration lists at appeals court

Source: Courthouse News Service

May 13, 2026


CINCINNATI (CN) — State election officials must provide unredacted, electronic versions of voter registration lists to the federal government to comply with the Civil Rights Act and maintain election integrity, the federal government argued Wednesday at the Sixth Circuit. Michigan’s Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson found herself in the crosshairs of the federal government in August 2025 after she refused its request for the state’s unredacted voter registration list.

According to officials at the Department of Justice, several “irregularities” — including lower than average voter removal and inadequate voter confirmation numbers — raised concerns Michigan might not be in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act.

Benson handed over the public version of the registration list but denied the government an unredacted copy based on her interpretation of both federal laws. A federal lawsuit followed, and Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Jarbou, a Donald Trump appointee, sided with Benson.

Jarbou determined the unredacted, electronic version of the voter registration list “was neither a record nor paper that came into the possession of Benson,” which excluded it from disclosure. The case hinges on the interpretation of the phrase “comes into possession of,” found in the Civil Rights Act, and which Jarbou decided does not cover documents created by state election officials.

Read more: https://courthousenews.com/feds-demand-michigan-voter-registration-lists-at-appeals-court/