Federal Judge Denies DOJ Access to New Jersey Voter Rolls

A federal judge in New Jersey has blocked the Justice Department from accessing the state's unredacted voter rolls. District Judge Zahid Quraishi ruled that providing the rolls could raise privacy concerns for voters. This ruling follows a lawsuit by the DOJ against several states, including New Jersey, seeking access to their voter rolls under Title III of the Civil Rights Act, which the judge found did not apply in this case. The ruling occurs amid controversy over noncitizen voting in New Jersey, where Governor Mikie Sherrill acknowledged a software error that led to the registration of approximately 6,600 noncitizens. Sherrill has initiated an investigation and is working to remove ineligible voters from the rolls. Reports also indicate that around 75,000 noncitizens were summoned for jury duty, prompting further calls for investigation from Republican officials.