Full Breakdown
DOJ Sues Six States Over Voter Registration Data
9/28/2025, 5:02:50 AM
Overview of the Lawsuits
On September 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed lawsuits against six states—California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania—accusing them of failing to provide sensitive voter registration data. The DOJ claims that these states are violating the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 by not complying with requests for unredacted voter rolls, which include personal information such as driver's license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.
Legal Context and Justifications
The DOJ argues that maintaining "clean voter rolls" is essential for free and fair elections. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “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.” The lawsuits aim to compel the states to provide the requested data to ensure compliance with federal election laws.
State Responses and Concerns
State officials have uniformly rejected the DOJ's demands, citing privacy concerns and legal restrictions. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson emphasized that the request constitutes an "illegal and unconstitutional power grab," stating, “The U.S. Justice Department is trying to get us to turn over the private, personal information of more than 8 million state residents.” Similarly, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt called the DOJ's demands "unprecedented and unlawful," asserting that his office has a duty to protect voter privacy.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon also expressed concerns, stating that the DOJ has not provided adequate assurances regarding how the data would be used or secured. He noted, “We have been very clear with the DOJ about our position that state and federal law do not allow our office to provide them with private voter data unless they provide information about how the information will be used and secured.”
Broader Implications
The lawsuits are part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to exert federal control over state election processes, a move that has raised alarms among election officials from both parties. Critics argue that the DOJ's actions could undermine public trust in elections and lead to potential misuse of sensitive voter information. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber characterized the lawsuits as a "fishing expedition" and a "blatant overreach," asserting that the sensitive data of California citizens should not be used as a political tool.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
While the DOJ maintains that the states are violating federal law, state officials argue that they are complying with legal requirements by providing publicly available voter data. The DOJ's request for sensitive information has been met with widespread resistance, with many states citing their legal obligations to protect voter privacy. The lack of clarity from the DOJ regarding the intended use and security of the data further complicates the situation.
What's Next
The lawsuits will likely lead to protracted legal battles as states defend their voter privacy laws against federal demands. As the DOJ continues its push for access to voter registration data, the outcomes of these cases could set significant precedents regarding the balance of power between state and federal authorities in managing elections.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections.” — Attorney General Pam Bondi
- “It’s important for every Michigander to understand what’s at stake here — the U.S. Justice Department is trying to get us to turn over the private, personal information of more than 8 million state residents. That includes people’s driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information,” — Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State
- “This kind of request is not normal.” — Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State
- “The Justice Department’s demand for voters’ personal information, including driver’s license numbers and Social Security numbers, is unprecedented and unlawful,” — Al Schmidt, Pennsylvania Secretary of State
- “We have been very clear with the DOJ about our position that state and federal law do not allow our office to provide them with private voter data unless they provide information about how the information will be used and secured,” — Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State
- “This lawsuit, like those filed against multiple other states, is a fishing expedition and pretext for partisan police objectives,” — Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State
