Sparkle Sooknanan

“failed to consider the risk that its use of citizenship records known to be unreliable would lead the civil rights division to demand that states remove US citizens from their voter rolls”

Sparkle Sooknanan · said 2026-10-09 · reported 2026-10-09

Sooknanan criticized the justice department for using unreliable citizenship records that could lead to removal of US citizens from voter rolls.

“The challenged policy represents the federal government’s attempt to decide who gets to vote,”

Sparkle Sooknanan · said 2026-10-09 · reported 2026-10-09

Judge Sooknanan ruled that the Justice Department unlawfully sought state voter rolls to cross-check against a federal immigration database.

“But Congress has left that authority where our constitution has always placed it: with the states.”

Sparkle Sooknanan · said 2026-10-09 · reported 2026-10-09

Sooknanan ruled that Congress gave the states, not the federal government, control over voter roll maintenance.

“The court vacates a policy that has removed United States citizens from the voter rolls in their home states and risks disenfranchising many more – a policy that flies in the face of duly enacted laws designed to protect Americans,”

Sparkle Sooknanan · said 2026-10-09 · reported 2026-10-09

Judge Sooknanan vacated the justice department's policy of collecting states' unredacted voter rolls, finding it unlawful.

“Behind all the window dressing, the challenged policy represents the federal government’s attempt to decide who gets to vote,”

Sparkle Sooknanan · said 2026-10-09 · reported 2026-10-09

Sooknanan wrote that the challenged policy was the federal government's attempt to decide who gets to vote.

“does not prevent the federal government from taking lawful steps to support states’ efforts to maintain accurate voter rolls”

Sparkle Sooknanan · said 2026-10-09 · reported 2026-10-09

Sooknanan clarified that her ruling did not prevent the federal government from supporting states' voter roll maintenance efforts.