US judge rules Trump administration’s use of voter data unlawful

A US judge ruled that the Justice Department unlawfully sought state voter rolls to cross-check against a federal immigration database and identify ineligible voters. Judge Sparkle Sooknanan's 78-page decision sided with watchdog group Common Cause, stating the administration underestimated the risk of wrongly removing eligible citizens due to database inaccuracies. The ruling marks a setback for Trump's efforts to expand federal election oversight ahead of the midterms, with the Justice Department reviewing the decision. The department had previously demanded unredacted voter rolls from nearly all 50 states to flag noncitizens for potential removal.