Democratic Secretaries of State Demand Clarity on Voter Data Use Amid Concerns

Fri Dec 05 2025 05:20:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ten Democratic secretaries of state express serious concerns over the Trump administration's request for voter registration data, alleging misleading communication regarding its usage.

In a recent letter to the Trump administration, ten Democratic state secretaries raised alarming concerns about the Justice Department's requests for voter registration data. They fear potential misuse of this information in programs verifying U.S. citizenship, challenging both transparency and data security protocols.

PORTLAND, Ore. — A coalition of ten Democratic secretaries of state has formally requested further clarification from the Trump administration regarding its ambitious initiative to collect statewide voter registration lists. Their letter emphasizes growing fears that federal agencies may have provided misleading information and are possibly utilizing this data in a program intended for U.S. citizenship verification.

Addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the secretaries articulated their 'immense concern' over reports indicating the Justice Department has shared state voter data with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In their correspondence, the secretaries wrote, 'Given the unprecedented nature and breadth of the DOJ’s requests, we require additional details about how the information will be utilized, disseminated, and protected.'

The Justice Department’s demand for expansive voter data has ignited conflict with several Democratic-led states, particularly with the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Over the recent months, the DOJ has sought data from at least 26 states—some of which are under Republican leadership—and has even pursued legal action against eight states that refused to comply.

Simultaneously, voting rights activists have launched lawsuits against the administration, claiming that the latest modifications to a federal citizenship verification tool could lead to wrongful purges of eligible voters from the registration lists.

Some states have reacted by submitting redacted versions of their publicly available voter lists, while others have outright denied the DOJ's requests, citing state laws or concerns regarding the administration’s non-compliance with federal Privacy Act stipulations.

Concerns about potential misuse are exacerbated by the Justice Department seeking comprehensive voter records that include personal identifying details like names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers.

Notably, during discussions earlier this year, federal officials reportedly presented conflicting information about the intended use of the voter lists. A Justice official had claimed that the information was aimed explicitly at ensuring states adhered to federal voting laws, while subsequent communications from DHS sparked confusion, indicating that the department had indeed received and would enter the voter data into a citizenship verification program, despite prior assurances to the contrary.

The letter sent by the secretaries of state from Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington demands answers by December 1 regarding the administration's data-sharing practices, as well as assurances around data privacy and security measures in place.