Illinois judge blocks DOJ bid for unredacted voter rolls, extending 0-19 defeat streak

A federal judge in Illinois dismissed the DOJ's attempt to obtain unredacted statewide voter registration data, marking the department's 19th straight loss in its nationwide voter-roll litigation. The court held Title III of the Civil Rights Act does not authorize the attorney general to seize live state voter databases or compel sensitive data, and found DOJ failed to show a legitimate purpose or factual basis for the demand; the decision follows a similar New Jersey ruling and leaves the DOJ to appeal rather than amend the claim.