Justice Department Sues States to Compel Voter Registration Data Release

The United States Department of Justice is pursuing legal action against 29 states to compel the release of unredacted voter registration databases. This effort supports President Donald Trump's initiative to establish a federal voter registration database aimed at removing ineligible voters. The DOJ asserts that the Civil Rights Act of 1960 grants the Attorney General broad authority to override state privacy laws to obtain these records.

In West Virginia, the DOJ filed a memorandum in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia seeking to force Secretary of State Kris Warner to release the state's statewide voter registration list. The action follows a February 2026 lawsuit after Warner denied the initial request. The West Virginia Citizens Action Group, represented by the ACLU-WV, has moved to intervene in the proceedings.

Similarly, a lawsuit against Washington state is proceeding after Judge Kymberly Evanson overcame procedural delays caused by the DOJ failing to serve the state within the required 90-day window. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs refused to provide private data, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth, citing state privacy laws. While the Trump administration claims the data is necessary for identity verification, state officials and critics expressed concern the information could be used for immigration enforcement.