PRESS RELEASE: Sixth Circuit Affirms Federal Authority Over Michigan Voter Records While Limiting Scope of DOJ Request
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MFEI Says Ruling Clarifies That Michigan’s Qualified Voter File Is Subject to Federal Election Oversight
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 25, 2026
CONTACT:
Melanie Nivelt
Media Relations Liaison
Michigan Fair Elections
248.425.8896
STOCKBRIDGE, Mich. — June 25, 2026 — The Michigan Fair Elections Institute (MFEI) today said the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an important decision clarifying that Michigan’s Qualified Voter File (QVF) falls within the federal record-retention provisions of Title III of the Civil Rights Act while also concluding that the Department of Justice’s request for the state’s entire unredacted voter database exceeded the authority granted by Congress.
The court held that Michigan’s statewide voter registration database constitutes election records covered by Title III. However, it affirmed dismissal of the Justice Department’s lawsuit because the agency sought information—including driver’s license numbers, partial Social Security numbers, and other personal identifiers—that exceeded the scope authorized under the statute.
The majority summarized the case by observing: “Today, the government invokes Title III for an inverse purpose—to ensure that some people have not voted.”
“The significance of this decision is being overlooked,” said Patrice Johnson, Chair and Founder of the Michigan Fair Elections Institute. “The Sixth Circuit rejected the argument that Michigan’s Qualified Voter File is categorically beyond federal oversight. Instead, the court recognized that Title III reaches these election records while limiting the scope of what the Department of Justice may compel.”
Johnson said the ruling should not be interpreted as insulating Michigan’s election records from federal review.
“The court drew an important line,” Johnson said. “It confirmed that Congress has authorized federal oversight of election records under Title III while concluding that the Justice Department’s particular request exceeded what the statute permits. Those are two very different legal questions.”
Johnson also criticized public statements suggesting that questioning election administration threatens democracy. “The Founding Fathers would turn over in their graves if they believed Americans should simply accept government assurances without question,” Johnson said. “The Framers designed a constitutional republic built upon checks and balances, transparency, accountability, and lawful oversight. Asking questions of government is not an attack on democracy—it is one of the ways our constitutional system preserves public confidence.”
Johnson noted that the Sixth Circuit itself emphasized Congress’s constitutional authority over federal elections, writing that Congress may “make or alter” state election regulations and may “add to state voting regulations, alter them, or displace them altogether.”
MFEI is saying the decision is likely to influence future litigation involving election records, voter list maintenance, federal election oversight, and enforcement of the Civil Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act.
The organization reiterated its longstanding position that election transparency and voter privacy are complementary, not competing, principles. “MFEI has consistently advocated for both transparency and voter privacy,” Johnson said. “Election records should be available for lawful oversight while personal identifying information is appropriately protected.”
About Michigan Fair Elections Institute
The Michigan Fair Elections Institute (MFEI) is a non-profit, nonpartisan 501(C)(3) educational organization dedicated to election transparency, research, public education, and promoting confidence in election administration through factual analysis, lawful oversight, and civic engagement.
