Washington, D.C. Voter Roll Access Challenge

Lawsuit filed by a conservative legal group, the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF), against the executive director of the District of Columbia Board of Elections (DCBOE) alleging that Washington, D.C. is violating the Public Disclosure Provision of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The plaintiff argues that the DCBOE is failing to maintain accurate voter rolls and is not complying with its voter list maintenance obligations under the NVRA. Specifically, PILF contends that the DCBOE’s failure to produce data “concerning registered voters identified as deceased or potentially deceased” constitutes a violation of the NVRA’s Public Disclosure Provision. PILF requests that the court order the defendant to produce voter registration data and voter list maintenance records, which include information that discloses voters’ “identification numbers, county or locality, full names, addresses, and dates of birth.”

RESULT: On Feb. 20, 2024, a federal judge approved a proposed settlement from PILF and DCBOE. Under this agreement, PILF will receive access to D.C. voter registration data. On April 17, 2024, as part of the settlement, PILF voluntarily dismissed their claims.

Last updated: May 2, 2024 9:43 am EST