Trump DOJ's suit to get voter data in blue state may fizzle out after epic legal blunder

A basic legal error could tank the Justice Department's lawsuit seeking to force Washington State to hand over its confidential voter registration data.

In a court order flagged by the liberal outlet Democracy Docket, U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kate Vaughan alerted the Justice Department that they never provided any proof that the state of Washington was properly served with their lawsuit — an oversight that would be grounds for throwing the whole case out.

"Plaintiff shall file proof of timely service upon Defendant or show cause as to why this matter should not be dismissed by March 17, 2026," wrote Vaughan in the two-page order.

This lawsuit is one of several filed around the country against states that have refused to render sensitive voter roll information that includes Social Security Numbers and other identifying information — mostly Democratic states, but also a handful of Republican ones.

All of this comes as Trump still aggressively pushes for the Republican Senate to pass his SAVE America Act, a massive crackdown on voting rights that would, among other things, require every current voter to re-register under new documentation requirements, and run those voter rolls through a Department of Homeland Security screening system notorious for errors.

Republicans don't appear to have the votes to pass it; however, under pressure, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has moved for a vote on it next week anyway.