Trump files lawsuits against six more states over voter registration lists

On December 3, the Trump administration filed lawsuits against six statesDelaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washingtonaccusing them of violating federal law by not providing access to their voter registration databases. Among these, five states have Democratic leadership, while Vermont is governed by a Republican.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) submitted the cases on Tuesday, seeking court orders to compel the states to release their voter registration information. This action brings the total number of states being sued by the Trump administration to fourteen, with the majority governed by Democrats.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the DOJ has requested voter registration fileswhich contain confidential and sensitive datafrom at least 40 states. Voting rights groups have voiced concerns, suggesting these demands could be an attempt to influence election outcomes. Immigration advocacy organizations also raised alarms after learning that the data could be shared with the Department of Homeland Security.

The Trump administration maintains that the requests are intended to safeguard the integrity of elections. President Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that he was deprived of victory in the 2020 election against President Joe Biden.

"Accurate voter rolls are essential for fair and transparent elections, yet too many states fail to maintain them properly," said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement on Tuesday. "The Department of Justice will continue pursuing election integrity lawsuits until states meet these fundamental standards."

The lawsuits assert that by denying access to voter registration lists, the states are violating the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJs Civil Rights Division emphasized: "States that resist federal voting laws hinder our efforts to ensure that voter lists are accurate, every vote is counted fairly, and the public can trust election outcomes. We will not tolerate such defiance of federal civil rights law."

Earlier this year, the DOJ filed suits against California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, about ten days after initiating cases against Oregon and Maine. Except for Vermont and New Hampshire, all these states have Democratic governors.

Author: Sophia Brooks