Justice Department expands legal action against states that have refused its demands for voter data

The Justice Department has sued six more states—Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington—for failing to provide statewide voter registration lists, bringing the total to at least 14 states.

The department claims the lawsuits aim to ensure election security, while Democratic officials express concern over privacy and the federal overreach into state-run elections.

The requests include detailed voter information, including personally identifiable data, though some states have only provided publicly available or redacted data.

State officials, including Rhode Island’s attorney general, called the lawsuits an overreach and a misuse of the Justice Department for political purposes, the AP has reported.

These actions coincide with Trump’s push to investigate the 2020 election, prompting lawsuits and warnings from voting rights groups.