PORTLAND, Ore. — Ten Democratic secretaries of state reached out to the Trump administration to seek further clarity regarding its extensive requests for statewide voter registration lists. They voiced immense concern over the potential for federal agencies to mislead state officials and hinted at the possibility that collected data may be entered into citizenship verification programs.
In a letter directed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the secretaries issued a stern caution. They highlighted the unprecedented nature of the requests from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and demanded a clearer explanation of how this information would be utilized and secured.
As the 2026 midterm elections loom, the Justice Department's pursuit of detailed voter data has become a contentious issue, drawing attention from both Democrats and some Republicans. In recent months, the DOJ has solicited data from at least 26 states and has initiated legal action against eight states for non-compliance.
Voting rights advocates have also responded, filing lawsuits against the administration, arguing that the new protocols for verifying citizenship may lead to unlawful purges of eligible voters.
While some states have complied by providing redacted voter lists or flat out declined the DOJ's requests, citing both state policies and the federal government's failure to adhere to Privacy Act stipulations, the DOJ insists that it requires comprehensive records that include sensitive personal information.
The number of states struggling with these requests even includes some traditionally Republican-led administrations, which have been caught in a complicated negotiation surrounding the release of voter records.
In their letter, the secretaries of state expressed that federal officials had provided “misleading and, at times, contradictory information” during various sanctioned discussions. There appears to be deviation among federal statements, with one agency advocating the need for the data to ensure state compliance with federal voting laws, while another agency has claimed receipt of this data for verification purposes.
The combined impact of these federal directives and changes to the SAVE program (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) is raising significant questions about data security and privacy, further stressing the need for clarity.
Inquiries outlined in the letter seek clear assurances regarding the handling of the data and how federal agencies are respecting confidentiality and privacy laws. The officials from Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington are awaiting a formal response from the Trump administration by December 1.
