Justice Department Sues Six States Over Voter Data Access
The U.S. Justice Department sued six states, including California and New York, for allegedly failing to provide complete voter registration data and respond to inquiries.
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Overview
- The U.S. Justice Department has filed lawsuits against six states, including California, Michigan, and New York, seeking access to detailed voter registration data.
- These lawsuits allege that the states are blocking federal efforts to obtain complete voter information and have not adequately responded to inquiries about their voter roll maintenance procedures.
- The Justice Department initially requested voter registration rolls from at least 26 states, with six states now facing legal action for non-compliance with these requests.
- Some states provided redacted voter lists or declined requests, citing state laws and federal Privacy Act obligations, while officials expressed concerns about privacy and legal authority.
- The Justice Department emphasizes states' legal obligation to maintain effective voter registration and list maintenance programs, a point also highlighted in the lawsuits.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by presenting both the Justice Department's legal actions and the states' counter-arguments without adopting loaded language. They detail the DOJ's rationale for seeking voter data and the states' reasons for refusal, including privacy concerns and questions about federal authority, allowing readers to weigh the differing perspectives.
"The U.S. Justice Department is suing six more states, saying the states refused to turn over voter registration lists with complete information as the agency mounts a wide-ranging effort to get detailed voter data."
ABC NewsArticles (3)
FAQ
The U.S. Justice Department sued six states: California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, following prior lawsuits against Maine and Oregon.
The Justice Department is requesting detailed voter registration data including full names, dates of birth, addresses, state driver’s license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.
Some states argue that sharing personally identifiable voter information would violate state and federal privacy laws, and therefore have either provided redacted lists or declined to comply fully.
The Justice Department is enforcing requirements under federal laws such as the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, which mandate accurate and accessible voter registration rolls.
The Justice Department states that maintaining clean voter rolls is essential for free and fair elections, and that states are legally obligated to provide accurate and complete voter registration information.
History
- This story does not have any previous versions.