government
Judge blocks use of federal database to check citizenship, saying it could wrongly purge voters
By ABC at KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC)
· June 22, 2026
· 6 min read
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday ruled that a recently revamped version of a federal tool central to the Trump administration’s efforts to nationalize elections can no longer be used.
U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan sided with advocacy groups that argued the recent upgra...
Key takeaway “All in all, the federal government has knowingly trampled on the privacy rights of American citizens in a manner that threatens the sacred right to vote,” Sooknanan said in an order explaining the decision.
Why this matters in The Minneapolis
In Minneapolis , where voter turnout is often among the highest in the state, the implications of this ruling are significant. The city's diverse population and history of robust civic engagement make it a crucial testing ground for election integrity measures. As the ruling casts uncertainty over the future of the SAVE system, local election officials will be watching closely to see how this decision affects their efforts to maintain accurate voter rolls. In Hennepin County, where Minneapolis is located, election administrators have long worked to balance the need to prevent voter fraud with the need to protect voters' rights and prevent unnecessary purges from the rolls. This ruling may provide some reassurance to local voters who have expressed concerns about the potential for erroneous removals from the voter lists, and may influence how the city approaches future elections.
About this story
Original reporting by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) . The Minneapolis surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) ·
Reading time: 6 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday ruled that a recently revamped version of a federal tool central to the Trump administration’s efforts to nationalize elections can no longer be used.
U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan sided with advocacy groups that argued the recent upgra...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC) and curated for The Minneapolis readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by ABC at KSTP 5 Eyewitness News (ABC). To learn more about how The Minneapolis selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The Minneapolis, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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