Washington Secretary of State Denies DOJ Request for Sensitive Voter Data Citing Legal Privacy Concerns

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has refused a request from the U.S. Department of Justice for sensitive voter registration information, including dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers, citing state and federal privacy laws. Hobbs stated that only publicly disclosable data such as names, addresses, years of birth, and voting history can be provided, emphasizing his duty to protect voter confidentiality. The DOJ's request, made under the National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act, aims to verify voter eligibility but has raised concerns about potential misuse, including building a national voter database or sharing information with other agencies, which may violate the Privacy Act of 1974. Washington joins states like Oregon and Maine in rejecting the DOJ’s demand, leading to legal conflicts with the Trump administration, which is pursuing these requests amid claims of voter fraud. Hobbs and state officials argue that existing state laws and procedures adequately manage voter eligibility verification and that the DOJ’s request lacks clear legal justification. The refusal underscores ongoing tensions over federal-state control of voter data and privacy protections.