What Comes Next
The six lawsuits were filed on September 25 in the federal district courts of each defendant state. Over the next several weeks, states will have to file answers or motions to dismiss. If they contest jurisdiction or raise constitutional defenses, preliminary hearings could stretch into early 2026. But the DOJ has the authority, the statutes, and — most importantly — a compelling argument grounded in congressional intent.
If preliminary injunctions are granted, states could be forced to produce rolls before the 2026 primaries. Appeals will almost certainly follow, but higher courts are not likely to intervene where the statutes leave so little room for ambiguity.
These lawsuits represent more than a bureaucratic dispute over records. They strike at the heart of public confidence in elections. Voter roll transparency is not a partisan weapon; it is a safeguard of democracy. When states refuse to comply, they are not just defying the DOJ — they are defying Congress and the American people’s right to know that elections are being conducted with integrity.
