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Must Vermont give the Justice Department its full voter list?

United States v. Hanzas

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At a glance

The Justice Department sued Vermont's Secretary of State for the full voter list under a 1960 civil rights law. A judge held that law does not cover the demand and dismissed the case; the United States appealed.

  1. What happened · 5 steps
    1. Justice Department demands Vermont's voter listSep. 2025

      It asked for the full list with license or partial Social Security numbers; the Secretary refused, citing privacy and purpose.

    2. United States sues Vermont's Secretary of StateDec. 1, 2025

      It says the Civil Rights Act of 1960 lets the Attorney General demand the list, and asked the court to compel it.

    3. Voter groups join to defend VermontJan. 2026

      The court let the Vermont Alliance for Retired Americans, two voters, and VPIRG join as defendants.

    4. Judge dismisses the caseSep. 17, 2026

      The court held the 1960 law does not reach the voter list, and that the demand fell short of the law even if it did.

    5. United States appealsOct. 30, 2026

      The government asked the Second Circuit to review the dismissal and the denial of its motion to compel.

  2. Vermont need not hand over its voter list

    The case is dismissed, so Vermont need not hand over its voter list while the United States appeals.

  3. Still open

    Whether the Second Circuit agrees is undecided. The judge did not reach the defendants' other arguments, including those based on state and federal privacy law.

Where it stands

Appeal of the dismissal

United States appeals to the Second Circuit · Oct. 30, 2026

The dismissal stands while the United States appeals to the Second Circuit. No appeals-court schedule appears on the docket yet.

Follow what's happening

  1. Lawsuit filed

    Dec. 1, 2025

    United States sues for Vermont's full voter list

  2. Voter groups join

    Jan. 16–20, 2026

    The court let retirees, two voters, and VPIRG defend the case

  3. Case dismissed

    Sep. 17, 2026

    The 1960 law does not cover Vermont's voter list

  4. Appeal of the dismissal

    Oct. 30, 2026

    United States appeals to the Second Circuit

The parties

United States

Plaintiff

The federal government, through the Justice Department

Wants

An electronic copy of Vermont's voter list

Key arguments

  • Vermont's voter list is a record the 1960 law covers

    Rejected; on appeal. Final ruling. The court found the state creates and constantly updates the list, so it is not a covered record

  • The law lets it obtain a full electronic copy

    Rejected; on appeal. Final ruling. The court read the law to allow inspection and copying at the official's office

  • Its letter gave a valid basis and purpose

    Rejected; on appeal. Final ruling. The court found no stated basis and a purpose unrelated to racial discrimination

  • Ordinary court rules don't apply to this demand

    Rejected; on appeal. Final ruling. The court applied the ordinary rules, noting the government chose to file a regular lawsuit

Represented by

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

Sarah Copeland Hanzas

Defendant and intervenors

Vermont's Secretary of State, joined by voter groups

Wants

Dismiss the demand for Vermont's voter list

Key arguments

  • The voter list isn't a record the 1960 law covers

    Accepted; on appeal. Final ruling. The court found the state-created, constantly updated list is outside the law

  • The law allows inspection, not an electronic copy

    Accepted; on appeal. Final ruling

  • The demand gave no basis for suspecting a violation

    Accepted; on appeal. Final ruling. The court also held the law's purpose is limited to racial discrimination in voting

  • Privacy laws bar sharing voters' sensitive data

    Not reached. The court decided on the 1960 law and did not address the privacy arguments

Represented by

Vermont Attorney General's Office, for the Secretary; Elias Law Group, for the Alliance group; Campaign Legal Center and Brennan Center, for VPIRG

Supporting defendant and intervenors: Maryland, 16 other states, and D.C.

Content snapshot as of .