PORTLAND, Ore. — A coalition of ten Democratic secretaries of state has formally requested more information from the Trump administration regarding its extensive efforts to obtain statewide voter registration lists, citing worries over misleading practices by federal agencies.
In a letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the state officials conveyed their immense concern over reports suggesting that the Justice Department shared state voter data with the Department of Homeland Security without proper transparency.
The unprecedented nature and scope of the DOJ’s requests necessitate that we receive further information on how this data will be utilized, shared, and safeguarded, the letter detailed.
Although the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security have yet to provide a response to inquiries, the efforts to compile detailed voter data have generated significant pushback, especially with the upcoming 2026 midterm elections looming on the horizon. The Justice Department's requests have extended to at least 26 states, including several governed by Republicans, and legal actions have been initiated against eight states for non-compliance.
Voting rights advocates have similarly raised alarms regarding recent adjustments to a federal tool for citizenship verification, warning it may lead to unlawful purging of voter rolls.
Some states have attempted to comply with these requests but have sent redacted versions of their public voter lists or outright declined the requests, invoking state laws and concerns over the Justice Department's compliance with federal privacy regulations. The requests specifically demanded sensitive information, including names, dates of birth, addresses, and partial Social Security numbers.
Even GOP-controlled states like South Carolina have encountered difficulty in responding to these requests, caught in discussions with the administration on how to handle them appropriately.
The crux of the letter revealed that during recent meetings arranged by the National Association of Secretaries of State, federal officials provided conflicting information about the intended use of voter data. Initial communications suggested the DOJ's interest was in ensuring state compliance with federal voting laws. However, follow-up statements by Homeland Security indicated a willingness to input this data into a federal program designed to verify citizenship, which contradicted earlier reassurances.
In their correspondence, the ten election officials pressed for clarification on whether the Justice Department has shared or plans to share voter files with other federal agencies and how such data would be used. They raised concerns over the security and confidentiality of the data.
The letter, endorsed by secretaries from states including Arizona, California, Minnesota, and Oregon, calls for a response from the Trump administration by December 1.
