Federal Judge Upholds Pennsylvania’s Voter Data Internet Sharing Ban

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania’s prohibition on publishing voter registration data on the internet, ruling that the state’s policy does not violate federal election law or the First Amendment.

U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Saporito Jr. granted summary judgment Thursday in favor of Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, rejecting arguments by the Voter Reference Foundation that sued over the commonwealth’s voter data sharing restrictions.

The Voter Reference Foundation sued Schmidt in 2024, alleging the Department of State violated the National Voter Registration Act and the First Amendment guarantee of free speech by refusing to provide the state’s voter rolls after the group refused to agree to the internet sharing ban.

Court Ruling Details

Judge Saporito ruled before trial that Pennsylvania’s ban on publishing publicly accessible voter data on the internet does not conflict with federal election law. The decision supports state officials who have defended the policy as protecting voter privacy.

Schmidt said in a statement Friday that he is pleased the federal court recognized the department’s reasonable restriction on publishing the commonwealth’s voter list does not violate federal law.

“The Department’s common-sense prohibition on disclosing the private information of Pennsylvania voters from disclosure on the internet is in line with our dedication to protect the privacy of our voters,” Schmidt said. “The Court correctly recognized this in its detailed and well-reasoned opinion.”

About the Voter Reference Foundation

The Voter Reference Foundation is led by former GOP Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Doug Truax and describes itself as “dedicated to ensuring transparent, accurate and fair elections,” according to its website. The organization has ties to a Trump-aligned billionaire GOP megadonor.

Harrisburg attorney Charles O. Beckley II represented the foundation in the case and referred inquiries to the organization’s lawyers in Kansas City, Missouri. Those attorneys did not respond to a phone message Friday.

Broader Legal Context

The Pennsylvania decision is one of several court rulings against the Voter Reference Foundation’s efforts to access voter data. Judge Saporito noted in his ruling that two federal appeals courts elsewhere in the country have reached different conclusions about similar claims by the group.

The conflicting federal court decisions suggest the issue of voter data access and privacy protections may eventually require resolution by higher courts or federal legislation to establish uniform standards across states.

Pennsylvania’s voter registration system, known as the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors, maintains records for millions of registered voters across the commonwealth while implementing privacy protections that limit how the data can be shared and published.