Federal Lawsuits Expand to 23 States Over Voter Registration Data Requests

The Justice Department filed federal lawsuits against Arizona and Connecticut on Tuesday, accusing both states of failing to provide complete statewide voter registration records as requested by federal officials. The actions are part of a broader campaign to enforce election compliance.

In the complaints, the Department’s Civil Rights Division alleges that the states have not fully complied with federal requests for voter roll data necessary to assess adherence to voter registration and list maintenance laws.

The litigation expands an ongoing initiative involving 23 states and the District of Columbia. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the lawsuits aim to ensure “transparency and election integrity” and warned additional legal actions may follow if states do not submit requested records.

“Accurate voter rolls are the foundation of election integrity,” Bondi emphasized in a statement.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division, added that precise voter lists are essential for ensuring ballots are cast by eligible voters and counted only once. Dhillon also indicated that the Department will hold states accountable for noncompliance with federal election laws.

In Arizona, the suit identifies Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, who has argued that the federal request seeks sensitive personal information and conflicts with state privacy protections. Fontes publicly rejected the demand, asserting that both state and federal law restrict disclosures of certain voter information.

Connecticut officials have raised similar concerns. Attorney General William Tong criticized the lawsuit, noting his state’s willingness to cooperate within legal privacy boundaries. Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas also stated that state laws limit the release of identifying details in voter registration records.

The cases highlight a growing conflict between the Trump administration and multiple states over permissible disclosure of voter information to federal authorities and appropriate safeguards for large databases containing personal identifiers.

The Justice Department maintains its requests are necessary for overseeing federal requirements that states maintain accurate and current voter registration lists. The complaints reference several federal statutes, including the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, which govern voter roll maintenance and record preservation.

Additionally, the Department cites the Civil Rights Act of 1960, which permits federal officials to inspect voter registration records for compliance with law.

The lawsuits follow recent actions targeting numerous states. In September, the Department sued California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania over similar demands. In December, it filed cases against Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington for failing to provide statewide voter registration lists upon request.

Justice Department officials have not publicly specified all categories of information sought in each state. However, state officials and observers express concerns that the requests might include personal data beyond what is typically disclosed through public voter records.

The litigation likely tests how federal record-access provisions interact with state privacy laws and whether states can legally withhold portions of their voter registration databases while still fulfilling federal inspection requirements.