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The U.S. Justice Department has expanded its election data collection effort, filing federal lawsuits against four additional states for allegedly failing to provide detailed voter registration information. Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Nevada were sued Thursday, bringing the total number of legal actions to 18 states plus Fulton County, Georgia.
The department claims these states are violating federal law by refusing to release voter lists and information about ineligible voters. According to the Justice Department, this initiative aims to ensure election security and integrity.
“States have the statutory duty to preserve and protect their constituents from vote dilution,” stated Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “At this Department of Justice, we will not permit states to jeopardize the integrity and effectiveness of elections by refusing to abide by our federal elections laws. If states will not fulfill their duty to protect the integrity of the ballot, we will.”
The Trump administration’s requests include access to sensitive voter data such as names, dates of birth, residential addresses, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. This broad collection effort has triggered significant pushback from state officials across the country, particularly among Democrats who have expressed concerns about how the data will be used and whether proper privacy protocols will be followed.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, defended her state’s refusal to comply, saying, “We will not hand over Coloradans’ sensitive voting information to Donald Trump. He does not have a legal right to the information. I will continue to protect our elections and democracy, and look forward to winning this case.”
Similar resistance came from Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar, who criticized the Justice Department for not providing clear explanations about their intended use of the data. “While these requests may seem like normal oversight, the federal government is using its power to try to intimidate states and influence how states administer elections ahead of the 2026 cycle,” Aguilar said in a press release. “The Constitution makes it clear: elections are run by the states.”
In Hawaii, officials have cited state privacy laws as the basis for their non-compliance. Thomas Hughes, Hawaii’s Deputy Solicitor General, argued in a September 22 letter that state law requires confidentiality for personal voter information beyond a voter’s name, district, and status. Hughes further contended that federal law doesn’t mandate states to turn over electronic registration lists or “uniquely or highly sensitive personal information” about voters.
According to an Associated Press investigation, the Justice Department has requested voter registration rolls from at least 26 states in recent months. These requests often include inquiries about how states maintain their voter rolls. In addition to the four states newly sued, the department has filed similar lawsuits against California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
The conflict extends to Wisconsin, where the bipartisan state Elections Commission voted 5-1 against providing unredacted voter information to the Trump administration. Most commissioners maintained that releasing such data would violate Wisconsin law. Republican commissioner Robert Spindell, the sole dissenter, cautioned that rejecting the request would likely result in yet another lawsuit.
This nationwide effort represents one of the most extensive federal attempts to collect voter information in recent history. Election law experts note that while the federal government has legitimate oversight responsibilities, the scope and timing of these requests have raised concerns about potential voter intimidation and the politicization of election administration ahead of future election cycles.
As legal battles unfold across multiple states, the outcome could significantly impact the relationship between federal and state authorities in election administration and set precedents for voter data privacy protections going forward.
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12 Comments
Maintaining the integrity of elections is critical, but the Justice Department’s approach seems overly aggressive and potentially undermines state sovereignty over election processes. A more collaborative, transparent approach would be better.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific rationale and legal justifications for this data collection effort. Voters deserve to understand how their personal information will be used and protected.
While I appreciate the goal of ensuring election integrity, the Justice Department’s tactics in suing states raise red flags. Voters need to have confidence that their personal information will be safeguarded and used appropriately.
Agreed. The federal government should find a way to work cooperatively with states on these issues rather than resorting to confrontational legal action.
Collecting detailed voter data is a sensitive issue that requires a delicate balance between election security and voter privacy. The Justice Department needs to be transparent about its plans and work collaboratively with states to address concerns.
Ensuring election security and integrity is important, but the Justice Department’s tactics in suing states raise questions about their motivations and the potential for overreach. Voters deserve to have their privacy protected.
Well said. The federal government should work cooperatively with states to address legitimate concerns, not through heavy-handed lawsuits that could sow distrust.
This seems like a concerning overreach of federal power over state election processes. Voter data privacy and integrity should be a top priority, but the details on how this data will be used and protected are unclear.
I agree, more transparency is needed to ensure this initiative doesn’t undermine voter rights and confidence in the electoral system.
This is a complex issue with valid concerns on both sides. The Justice Department should work to address legitimate election security needs while also respecting voter privacy and state authority over elections.
As a voter, I’m concerned about the potential for this data collection to be misused or compromised. The Justice Department needs to clearly demonstrate how this information will be safeguarded and used solely for legitimate election administration purposes.
This is a concerning development that merits close scrutiny. Voters deserve to have their personal information protected, and the Justice Department needs to demonstrate how this data collection will enhance election integrity without undermining democratic principles.