US Justice Department Sues Six States Over Voter Registration Data Refusal

The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, has filed lawsuits against Pennsylvania and five other states—California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and New Hampshire—for refusing to provide full statewide voter registration lists including sensitive personal information such as partial Social Security and driver’s license numbers. The DOJ asserts these actions violate federal laws like the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, emphasizing that clean voter rolls are essential for free and fair elections. Pennsylvania officials, including Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, strongly oppose the demands, citing privacy concerns and state laws, and vow to vigorously defend against what they call federal overreach. The lawsuits seek court orders to compel states to comply and declare any conflicting state laws invalid due to federal preemption. This enforcement effort reflects ongoing tensions over federal authority in election oversight and the balance between transparency and voter privacy. The DOJ has pursued similar actions against other states, including Oregon and Maine, targeting states largely governed by Democrats except for New Hampshire.