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Wednesday, Dec 03, 2025
Outside the box.
Trump Administration Sues Washington State for Refusing to Hand Over Protected Voter Data
Department of Justice demands full voter-roll access, challenging state laws on privacy and sparking legal showdown
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against the state of Washington, seeking access to the state’s full voter registration database — including sensitive personal information such as names, dates of birth, home addresses and identifying numbers.
The action is part of a broader effort by the federal government to secure detailed voter-roll data from multiple states.
Washington’s Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs, has so far refused to comply, arguing the requested information is protected under state law.
In September the DOJ had issued a formal demand for the complete statewide voter list within two weeks.
Under the applicable laws in Washington, certain details — including full birth dates, driver licence information and the last digits of Social Security numbers — are classified as private and are not part of the publicly available voter registry.
Hobbs offered to supply only publicly disclosable fields such as name, address, gender, year of birth and voting history.
The DOJ maintains that it has statutory authority under the Civil Rights Act of 1960, reinforced by the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, to demand and inspect full statewide voter-registration records.
The lawsuit argues that compliance is required to ensure states maintain accurate and up-to-date voter rolls — a foundational element of free and fair elections.
Washington is among six states targeted in the latest round of litigation.
The legal challenge marks one of the most aggressive steps by the administration to date in its nationwide push for enhanced federal oversight of voter registration systems.
Proponents argue the action defends election integrity by ensuring rolls are properly maintained and potential ineligible registrations are identified.
Their critics warn the move could undermine voter privacy, deter registration and erode trust in electoral processes.
At issue is more than data access — the lawsuit raises profound questions about the balance between federal enforcement of election safeguards and state responsibility to protect voter privacy under local law.
Legal experts predict a protracted court battle.
The initial filing seeks an order compelling Washington to deliver its full list, with statesmen across the country watching closely as the case advances.
For now, Washington continues to withhold the requested personal data.
The immediate next step will be the court’s assessment of whether federal election-law mandates override state privacy protections — a ruling that may shape how voter data is shared nationwide.
In a context of heightened concern over electoral integrity, the lawsuit illustrates the administration’s determination to apply federal law broadly — even as state authorities resist on legal and privacy grounds.
The action is part of a broader effort by the federal government to secure detailed voter-roll data from multiple states.
Washington’s Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs, has so far refused to comply, arguing the requested information is protected under state law.
In September the DOJ had issued a formal demand for the complete statewide voter list within two weeks.
Under the applicable laws in Washington, certain details — including full birth dates, driver licence information and the last digits of Social Security numbers — are classified as private and are not part of the publicly available voter registry.
Hobbs offered to supply only publicly disclosable fields such as name, address, gender, year of birth and voting history.
The DOJ maintains that it has statutory authority under the Civil Rights Act of 1960, reinforced by the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, to demand and inspect full statewide voter-registration records.
The lawsuit argues that compliance is required to ensure states maintain accurate and up-to-date voter rolls — a foundational element of free and fair elections.
Washington is among six states targeted in the latest round of litigation.
The legal challenge marks one of the most aggressive steps by the administration to date in its nationwide push for enhanced federal oversight of voter registration systems.
Proponents argue the action defends election integrity by ensuring rolls are properly maintained and potential ineligible registrations are identified.
Their critics warn the move could undermine voter privacy, deter registration and erode trust in electoral processes.
At issue is more than data access — the lawsuit raises profound questions about the balance between federal enforcement of election safeguards and state responsibility to protect voter privacy under local law.
Legal experts predict a protracted court battle.
The initial filing seeks an order compelling Washington to deliver its full list, with statesmen across the country watching closely as the case advances.
For now, Washington continues to withhold the requested personal data.
The immediate next step will be the court’s assessment of whether federal election-law mandates override state privacy protections — a ruling that may shape how voter data is shared nationwide.
In a context of heightened concern over electoral integrity, the lawsuit illustrates the administration’s determination to apply federal law broadly — even as state authorities resist on legal and privacy grounds.
