Iowa Officials Sue Biden Administration Over Voter Data

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Attorney General Brenna Bird have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration seeking access to information regarding noncitizens on Iowa's voter rolls. The lawsuit arises from the federal government's alleged refusal to provide data on over 2,000 individuals identified as potential noncitizens by Iowa officials, complicating efforts to ensure election integrity before the upcoming election. Pate expressed concerns that the lack of federal cooperation forces Iowa to rely on 'imperfect' data, and he instructed county officials to challenge ballots associated with these voters. The ACLU of Iowa has filed a counter-suit on behalf of naturalized citizens who were improperly flagged, challenging the state’s actions. Bird emphasized the need for transparency to uphold the law that mandates only American citizens can vote, while Pate proposed solutions for verifying voter eligibility more efficiently. Critics, including the League of United Latin American Citizens, argue that Pate's efforts may be politically motivated.