DOJ Files Lawsuit Against Six States Over Voter Registration Data

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated legal action against six states in the U.S. for their refusal to provide the statewide voter registration lists demanded by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The lawsuit specifically targets California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.

The DOJ is calling on federal courts in these states to compel election officials to release comprehensive voter registration records. This includes details like names, driver’s license numbers, birth dates, and partial Social Security numbers.

According to the Justice Department, the failure to supply these voter lists prevents Bondi from ensuring compliance with federal list maintenance requirements.

“A clean voter role is the foundation of free and fair elections,” Bondi stated. “Every state has a duty to keep voter registration records accurate, accessible, and secure. In cases where this obligation is not met, the Department of Justice will seek judicial intervention.”

Earlier this year, Bondi requested this information from the states.

“We’ve clearly communicated to the DOJ that state and federal laws limit our ability to share private voter data unless there’s transparency on its use and protection,” remarked Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon on Thursday.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber echoed similar sentiments, arguing that the DOJ has not provided sufficient legal justification for its demands.

The lawsuit is believed to stem from concerns that the state voter lists may include records of deceased individuals.

“States are required to safeguard American elections by following federal laws,” said Halham K. Dillon, an assistant adviser in the DOJ’s civil rights division. “Having clean voter roles helps prevent fraud and abuse and reinstills public confidence that state elections are conducted fairly and legally.”

After his return to the White House in January, President Trump issued an executive order directing the Election Assistance Committee to revise the national voter registration form to require proof of U.S. citizenship. However, this initiative is currently stalled in federal court.

Previously, Bondi’s DOJ had filed lawsuits against Oregon and Maine for not supplying requested information about their voter list maintenance procedures and registration roles.