Justice Department Expands Voter Data Lawsuits to Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, DC

The Justice Department filed new lawsuits on Thursday. The suits target Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, and the District of Columbia. The federal government wants detailed voter information from them.

This action is part of a broader national effort. According to Reuters, the department has now filed 22 such lawsuits. The goal is to collect comprehensive voting data across the country.

The Trump administration says this ensures election security. Officials argue states are breaking federal law. They say the data is needed to protect citizens from vote dilution.

States Resist Over Privacy Concerns

State officials are pushing back firmly. They cite strict local privacy statutes. Providing certain data would be illegal under their laws.

The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission voted against the request last week. Both Republican and Democratic commissioners agreed. They said sharing full birthdates and driver’s license numbers would violate state law.

Georgia’s office provided a voter list. However, it excluded sensitive details like full birthdates. State law prohibits sharing that data.

An Associated Press tally shows at least 26 states received similar requests. The requests often ask how states maintain their voter rolls. Many are now facing legal action for non-compliance.

These lawsuits raise significant privacy questions. Democratic officials and others worry about how the data will be used. The information sought includes partial Social Security numbers and home addresses.

A Nationwide Legal Battle

This is the second wave of lawsuits in a week. Last week, the Justice Department sued Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Nevada. Ten other states are reportedly cooperating with the requests.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon issued a statement. She said the department stands for election integrity. She emphasized this stance applies regardless of which party leads a state.

The legal fight highlights a deep divide. It pits federal election security interests against state privacy protections. The outcome could affect how voter data is shared nationwide.

The ongoing wave of voter data lawsuits signifies a major federal push for election transparency. State resistance underscores a fierce battle over privacy and federal authority. The legal outcomes will shape future election data policies across the United States.