The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit on Thursday against six states, including California and New York, for not supplying private voter data that the department had requested.
“A clean voter roll is essential for free and fair elections. Each state has a duty to ensure that voter registration records are accurate, secure, and accessible,” a spokesperson stated.
In addition to California and New York, the lawsuit also targets Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, with all cases being presented in federal court.
This announcement came just hours before former FBI director James Comey faced charges in federal court.
The DOJ is urging state election officials to manage the voter information in their registration systems, arguing that states are in violation of federal law if they fail to provide complete voter data.
“We have been clear with the DOJ that our office will not share private voter data unless there are assurances on how this information is handled and safeguarded,” said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon (D). He mentioned that since June, his office has complied with every request and met all deadlines related to keeping elections secure.
Simon indicated his office was looking for “more assurance” regarding the protection of Minnesotans’ personal data, but expressed frustration over the DOJ’s lack of response concerning the safeguards for that information. “They didn’t give us any details on the protection and usage of the data. Instead, they opted to sue,” he added.
Earlier this month, the DOJ also took legal action against Maine and Oregon under similar circumstances, citing their failure to manage their voter registration lists effectively.
The department is requesting voter registration data from at least 26 states, along with information on how those lists have been maintained recently, as per a report from the Associated Press.
“A clean voter role safeguards American citizens from fraud and restores their confidence in the integrity of state elections,” stated Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who oversees the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
