United States v. Nago
The Justice Department sued Hawaii's elections chief for the state's full voter list. In April 2026 the judge paused the case until the Ninth Circuit decides two similar appeals.
The government said Scott Nago broke a 1960 civil rights law by refusing its demand for the full voter list.
The court let the NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference join the case as a defendant.
Nago and the NAACP each moved to dismiss, arguing the demand lacked a valid basis and purpose.
The court stayed the case until the Ninth Circuit rules in similar California and Oregon appeals.
The court treated the government's motion to compel the records as withdrawn while the case is paused.
Hawaii need not hand over the list yet
No court has ordered Hawaii to produce the list; the case is paused and the dismissal motions are undecided.
Still open
Whether the case resumes after the Ninth Circuit rules, and then whether it is dismissed.
Stayed until the Ninth Circuit rules in two similar appeals · Apr 6, 2026
The case is paused until the Ninth Circuit rules in two similar appeals.
Follow what's happeningLawsuit filed
NAACP joins as defendant
Motions to dismiss
Case paused
Court revisits the stay
The federal government, through the Justice Department
Hawaii's full electronic voter list
The 1960 Civil Rights Act lets it demand the list
Courts should simply order the records produced
Federal privacy laws don't block its demand
A pause hurts its check on voter-roll upkeep
U.S. Department of Justice
Hawaii's elections chief, joined by an NAACP conference
Dismissal; keep the voter list private
The demand gave no basis and an improper purpose
Hawaii privacy law bars releasing the full list
The demand violates federal privacy laws
Similar Ninth Circuit appeals may decide this case
Hawaii Department of the Attorney General
Friends of the court: Democratic National Committee and 17 states and the District of Columbia and Former U.S. Justice Department employees and Common Cause, Neil Abercrombie, Katherine Hammes