Justice Department Seeks Voter Data from States
The Justice Department is urging states to endorse what it describes as a “confidentiality memorandum.” This memorandum mandates that voters provide personal information, including their name, date of birth, place of residence, state driver’s license number, and the last four digits of their Social Security number.
According to the Justice Department, once states submit this data, they will be responsible for notifying the agency of any “maintenance problems, inadequacies, deficiencies, anomalies, or concerns” identified during the review, evaluation, or analysis of the voter registration lists.
However, six states with Republican leanings—Idaho, Utah, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Georgia—have refused to comply with the data request. Furthermore, not all states that did submit information agreed to sign the proposed memorandum; notably, Iowa, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Tennessee chose not to participate.
Currently, seven federal judges across different states have dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit, with a judge in Rhode Island describing it as a “fishing expedition.” The Department of Justice has appealed three of these rulings, while other cases continue to progress through the courts.
Litigation Status Across the Nation
The Justice Department is actively pursuing litigation in 24 states, including Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Hawaii, Idaho, West Virginia, Utah, Kentucky, and New Jersey. They are suing secretaries of state and election officials nationwide in an effort to secure the requested voter data, claiming it will assist in investigating potential voter roll maintenance issues and irregularities.
Dismissals of Lawsuits
Multiple lawsuits have been dismissed in states such as California, Michigan, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Arizona, and Oregon. These rejections highlight the contentious nature of the Justice Department’s efforts to acquire voter information.
Appeals Ongoing
Appeals are currently underway in California, Oregon, and Michigan as the Justice Department continues to pursue its goal of accessing voter data.
Unique Cases
In a notable development, the Justice Department reached a settlement with Oklahoma, allowing the state to provide voter data in exchange for the dismissal of related lawsuits. Additionally, a legal agreement was made between the Justice Department and the North Carolina State Board of Elections regarding voter data. North Dakota is also exploring a potential information-sharing agreement with the Department of Justice, although no lawsuit has been initiated to date.
In Iowa, a request to sign a memorandum permitting unauthorized access to the statewide voter list was declined by state officials. Alabama officials have not yet responded to a similar request for voter data, while discussions in North Dakota regarding data sharing were reported as of last summer, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
States That Complied with Data Requests
States that have actively submitted voter data include Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Alaska, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Kansas, and Montana, reflecting a varied response to the Justice Department’s initiative across the nation.
