Trump loses 21 straight court battles on voter roll demands

The Story in Brief

The Trump administration has lost 21 consecutive court cases this year in its push to obtain state voter rolls, with a judge ruling this week that states are not required to share records with the federal government. President Donald Trump claims widespread noncitizen voting benefits Democrats, but a Reuters investigation found only 129 prosecutions for noncitizen voting since 1996. Judges including appointees of both parties have ruled that the Constitution gives states primary responsibility for federal elections.

The Justice Department has sued over two dozen states and threatened to withhold disaster funds from those refusing to comply. It has appealed 16 losses, but lost one appeal in the 6th Circuit on June 24. A separate executive order to limit mail ballots has been blocked by a federal judge, who said federal agencies cannot accurately compile citizenship lists. The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to hear any case.