Civil Rights Groups, New Jersey Voters

File Motion to Protect Voters’ Privacy

March 4, 2026

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey, the Latino Action Network, and an individual New Jersey voter, represented by the ACLU of New Jersey and the ACLU Voting Rights Project, today filed a motion to intervene in U.S. v. Caldwell to prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ) from obtaining New Jersey voters’ personal data.

“Protecting voter privacy is essential to preventing disenfranchisement and preserving public confidence in our elections,” said Jesse Burns, executive director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. “When voters fear that their private information is at risk, participation suffers and trust in the democratic process is weakened. That trust is not optional – it is the foundation of a healthy democracy. The League of Women Voters of New Jersey is proud to stand up against this attack against our voters.” 

In the brief, the proposed intervener-defendants argue that the DOJ’s request threatens voter privacy and could enable voter disenfranchisement. They seek to advance the interests of civic engagement groups, whose work is compromised when New Jerseyans have reason to distrust the registration process, and individual voters, including naturalized citizens, who risk being targeted by the federal government and whose private data is impacted by this litigation.

“Voters should never fear that taking part in our democracy will put their personal information at risk,” said Caren Short, director of legal and research for the League of Women Voters. “The Department of Justice’s crazed demands for states’ unredacted voter lists are an alarming overreach that jeopardizes the privacy of millions. The League is proud to step in to ensure that every voter can cast a ballot freely and without intimidation from the federal government that should be protecting them.”