Story perspectives

DOJ's Voter Data Grab Sparks Privacy and Rights Concerns

9/10/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Justice Department (DOJ) is gathering national voter roll data, raising concerns among voting rights experts.
This initiative, backed by President Trump's allies, seeks to support claims of illegal voting by undocumented immigrants.
The DOJ has requested data from 16 Republican-led and 17 Democrat-led states, facing significant resistance.
Experts warn this effort may violate the 1974 Privacy Act and could be illegal.
Critics argue it expands federal control over elections and raises concerns about data misuse.

History

Historical Context

The Privacy Act of 1974 was established to protect personal information held by federal agencies. Recent initiatives by the Justice Department to collect voter roll data from 33 states, supported by allies of President Trump, raise concerns about potential violations of this law. This effort reflects ongoing tensions over federal involvement in elections, reminiscent of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to safeguard voter access.

1 of 2

Story summary

The Justice Department (DOJ) is gathering national voter roll data, raising concerns among voting rights experts.
This initiative, backed by President Trump's allies, seeks to support claims of illegal voting by undocumented immigrants.
The DOJ has requested data from 16 Republican-led and 17 Democrat-led states, facing significant resistance.
Experts warn this effort may violate the 1974 Privacy Act and could be illegal.
Critics argue it expands federal control over elections and raises concerns about data misuse.

1 / 2