The U.S. Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against five more states as it pushes for broader access to voter registration records. The move is part of the Trump administration’s wider effort to review state maintained voter rolls in the name of election integrity.
States Targeted in Latest Legal Action
The new lawsuits involve Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, and New Jersey. Four of these states have supported President Donald Trump in the last three presidential elections, while New Jersey has leaned Democratic.
With this latest round of legal action, the Justice Department has now sued more than two dozen states. Most of those states are led by Democratic officials, although this newest group includes several Republican led states as well.
DOJ Cites Federal Authority
The department argues that it has the right to request voter records under the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Officials say the law allows the attorney general to obtain election related data from state authorities.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the department will continue enforcing election laws without regard to party affiliation. She added that the DOJ will not back down from what it calls its oversight duties in federal elections.
Attorney General Pam Bondi also defended the lawsuits. She said accurate voter rolls are essential to secure elections and public trust. According to Bondi, the department’s actions are meant to promote transparency and proper voter list maintenance nationwide.
States Push Back on Data Requests
Several state officials have rejected the federal demands. They argue that while some voter information is publicly available in redacted form, the DOJ is seeking unredacted files. These records could include sensitive personal details such as driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.
Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said neither state nor federal law permits the collection of private data from law abiding citizens in this way. She stated that her office will continue to protect voter rights and follow the Constitution.
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams also criticized the lawsuit. He described Kentucky’s elections as a model for the country and said state law protects voter information. Adams added that he would not release personal data without a court order.
In West Virginia, Secretary of State Kris Warner’s office said it had not yet received the lawsuit. A spokesperson made clear that the state does not plan to hand over personal voter information voluntarily.
Broader Election Efforts
The legal battles come as the Trump administration increases its involvement in election matters. The U.S. Constitution gives states the primary authority to run elections, and most states place that responsibility with their secretary of state.
Earlier this month, the FBI executed a search warrant at an election office in Fulton County, Georgia. Agents seized ballots and other records from the 2020 election. Georgia voted for Joe Biden in 2020 but supported Trump in 2024.
President Trump has also urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act. The proposal would require proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, along with photo identification to vote in federal elections.
