DOJ Sues Six States for Refusing to Turn Over Full Voter-Registration Data

The U.S. Justice Department filed lawsuits Thursday against six states — California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania — alleging they refused to turn over voter registration lists with complete information and did not adequately answer questions about how they maintain their voter rolls. The actions are part of a broader DOJ effort to obtain detailed voter data from states. Last week, the department sued Oregon and Maine, bringing the total to eight states targeted so far.

The lawsuits seek full voter-registration data, including each voter's full name, date of birth, residential address, state driver’s license number and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers. The department says providing only redacted versions or partial data makes it impossible to determine whether the states are complying with federal law. In addition to the data request, the suits demand thorough responses about the procedures each state uses to maintain its voter rolls.

Some states have argued privacy protections or their own statutes restrict sharing certain personal information or that the federal Privacy Act constrains what the Justice Department can request. Michigan has said it will respond with objections based on state law. The department has said the data-sharing obligations are compelled under federal law.

The department's outreach has raised concerns among election officials about federal authority to run elections, with many noting that the power to administer elections rests with states and Congress. Officials also worry about possible uses of the data beyond roll maintenance. Federal law does protect sharing of certain information with the federal government, but questions remain about the scope of the department's authority.

An Associated Press tally shows the DOJ has asked at least 26 states for voter registration rolls in recent months, and in many cases asked for information on how they maintain their rolls. Some states have supplied redacted versions, but the department says the responses are insufficient to determine compliance with federal requirements. The DOJ says the nationwide push aims to ensure states keep accurate, accessible and secure voter rolls.

The eight targeted states are led by Democratic governors, with New Hampshire the exception, which is governed by a Republican. The department frames the actions as enforcing federal voter-roll maintenance standards; the states dispute the scope of federal reach over election administration. The department's statement includes the line from Bondi: "Clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections. Every state has a responsibility to ensure that voter registration records are accurate, accessible, and secure — states that don’t fulfill that obligation will see this Department of Justice in court."