NAACP et al., Argue that Federal Demand for Access to New Jersey’s Voter Rolls Threatens Voters of Color and Others

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 16, 2026

Contact: communications@naacpnet.org

NEWARK – The NAACP, alongside the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, and other advocacy organizations, represented by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, P.C., filed a Motion to Intervene late Friday to join as defendants in United States of America v. Caldwell. The lawsuit, brought by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) against the State of New Jersey, demands that New Jersey  turn over unredacted, sensitive voter registration records, including names, addresses, birth dates, driver's license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.

The proposed Intervenors argue that the government seeks to weaponize the data by identifying certain categories of voters – mainly citizens who are immigrants, people of color, and people with past criminal convictions – to challenge their right to vote. They argue that combining state and federal databases presents a serious risk of wrongly flagging legitimate voters who already face significant structural barriers to voting and civic life, including those who are vulnerable to unconstitutional or erroneous immigration enforcement in the current climate.

"Weaponizing voter data by targeting marginalized communities is not only unconstitutional but deteriorates the integrity of our democracy in real time," said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. "The communities at risk already face barriers to civic participation, and we will not stand by as voting rights are jeopardized by blatant federal overreach."

The Motion to Intervene argues that for New Jersey to turn over the voter rolls would pose significant privacy risks to communities that have historically faced racial discrimination and disproportionate surveillance by the government and law enforcement – and would likely deter people from registering to vote and erode trust in the voting process.

While 12 states have complied with the Department of Justice's request for voter records, most have refused. The NAACP has filed similar motions to intervene in Georgia, Minnesota, Utah, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Nevada, as well as in California, where the federal court dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit. Courts in Michigan and Oregon have also dismissed the government's lawsuits demanding these records. NAACP is closely monitoring the federal government's attempts to improperly seize and weaponize voter registration information and remains ready to respond where and when necessary. 

The Motion to Intervene, filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, can be found here.

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The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st-century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities. 

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.