DOJ sues Minnesota Secretary of State over voter roll refusal

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon for refusing to provide the federal government with a full copy of the state's voter registration list, citing the need to assess Minnesota's compliance with federal election laws. The DOJ seeks detailed voter information, including full names, dates of birth, addresses, driver's license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers, but Simon's office has declined, raising concerns over legal authority and the privacy of millions of Minnesotans. This legal dispute is part of a broader DOJ effort, initiated under a March 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump, to review voter rolls across multiple states for accuracy and potential noncitizen registrations. Similar lawsuits have been filed against other states such as Oregon, Maine, California, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania for their refusal to provide voter data. Critics argue that the DOJ's focus is shifting from protecting ballot access to pursuing conservative-backed voter fraud claims, while Minnesota officials emphasize adherence to privacy and federal law limitations. The DOJ maintains that clean and accurate voter rolls are essential for election integrity and is pursuing legal action to enforce compliance.