A federal appeals court panel declined to restore access to a new Department of Homeland Security tool that would let states compare voter rolls against federal citizenship and Social Security data. By a 2-1 vote, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled the department had not shown the system could operate without violating privacy laws protecting Social Security information. The ruling kept the system offline as the Trump administration fights to implement new voting restrictions before the November midterm elections.

Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan and Judge Robert L. Wilkins formed the majority, while Judge Gregory G. Katsas dissented.

The database was created via executive order giving federal agencies direct election monitoring roles. Earlier, a Massachusetts judge blocked Postal Service voter eligibility changes. The administration continues legal battles over both agencies' authority, with less than 60 days until the election.