吃瓜大本营

The Department of Justice (鈥淒OJ鈥�) sued Maryland demanding the release of its full, unredacted voter file, which includes the highly sensitive and personal data of every voter in the state. This suit appears to be part of DOJ鈥檚 effort to build a national voter database without congressional authorization, improperly question the validity of state voter rolls, and intimidate eligible voters in Maryland and around the country.

Great Falls, Mont. 鈥� On December 15, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana approved a settlement reached in Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy鈥檚 Reservation v. Chouteau County, Montana that will provide Tribal citizens the opportunity to elect a representative of their choice to the Chouteau County Board of County Commissioners. In August, the Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy鈥檚 Reservation and two Native voters filed a lawsuit challenging Chouteau County鈥檚 unfair, at-large voting system for the Board of County Commissioners. The system unlawfully diluted the voting strength of Native voters and has denied them representation on the county commission for more than a decade, even though they make up approximately one-third of the county鈥檚 voting-age population. Under the terms of the settlement, the Tribal Nation鈥檚 reservation will be part of Chouteau County鈥檚 District 1, which will elect a representative to the Board of County Commissioners through a single-member district election. 鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased that the county did the right thing in giving the Chippewa Cree Tribe a chance to elect a representative to the Board of Commissioners,鈥� said Chippewa Cree Tribe Chairman Harlan Gopher Baker. 鈥淚t has been more than a decade since we have had a Native voice in county politics. We look forward to being a part of this conversation.鈥� 鈥淭his case was about our community finally having a representative and a voice like other voters in the county,鈥� said plaintiff and voter Tanya Schmockel, a citizen of the Chippewa Cree Tribe. 鈥淚 am excited about finally having the chance to have our voices heard and our concerns addressed.鈥� Most of Chouteau County鈥檚 Native population lives on or near the Rocky Boy鈥檚 Reservation, and many critical local issues 鈥� such as infrastructure, road maintenance, and emergency services 鈥� require coordination between the county and Tribal governments. 鈥淚n order for our county to include all of us, we needed a fair election system. With the new district, we have a chance for our voters to elect a commissioner who understands Native issues,鈥� said plaintiff and voter Ken Morsette, a citizen of the Chippewa Cree Tribe. 鈥淭his is a huge step forward for our Tribe.鈥� Native American Rights Fund (NARF), American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Voting Rights Project (ACLU), and ACLU of Montana (ACLU-MT), represent the plaintiffs in this case. 鈥淔or too long, Native voters in Chouteau County were shut out of meaningful representation,鈥� said Theresa J. Lee, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Voting Rights Project. 鈥淐ounty commissioners shape policies that affect daily life, including budget decision-making, supervising public service departments, and so much more. This agreement acknowledges what our clients have always known: every voter deserves an equal opportunity to shape the government that serves them." 鈥淭his settlement and the district that it creates is a huge improvement for the entire county,鈥� said NARF Staff Attorney Samantha Blencke. 鈥淗aving a representative board allows the county commissioners to better address the concerns of all their constituents. We congratulate the county for doing the right thing and the Native voters and Chippewa Cree Tribe who insisted that they, rightfully, have a seat at the table.鈥� 鈥淲ith this settlement, Native voters of the Rocky Boy鈥檚 Reservation finally have a fair opportunity to elect a representative to the Chouteau County鈥檚 Board of Commissioners,鈥� said Akilah Deernose, Executive Director of the ACLU of Montana. 鈥淚ndigenous voters in Montanan should not need to go to court to secure the same rights and privileges as non-Native voters. Until then, the ACLU of Montana will continue to fight for every Montanan鈥檚 constitutional and statutory rights.鈥�

Representing the ACLU of Maine, the ACLU Voting Rights Project and the ACLU of Maine filed an amicus brief in a federal lawsuit over the federal government鈥檚 demand that Maine turn over its entire voter registration rolls, including with voters鈥� sensitive personal data such as drivers鈥� license numbers and partial social security numbers.