Why red states are pushing back on Trump administration’s request for voter data
Several Republican-controlled states are resisting a Trump administration request for sensitive voter data, citing legal, privacy, and data security concerns. The Department of Justice has sued 30 states and D.C. for non-compliance, but even traditionally supportive red states like Utah, West Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, and Idaho have refused. The data, which includes partial Social Security numbers and driver’s license information, is reportedly intended for use in a federal citizenship verification system, raising alarms among voting rights advocates.
- ▪The Department of Justice has sued 30 states and the District of Columbia for refusing to provide full voter registration lists.
- ▪Republican-led states including Utah, West Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, and Idaho have rejected the DOJ’s request over legal and privacy concerns.
- ▪The requested voter data includes sensitive information such as partial Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers.
- ▪The DOJ plans to share the data with the Department of Homeland Security for use in the error-prone SAVE database to verify citizenship.
- ▪Voting rights groups have sued the administration, alleging the data collection could enable voter purges ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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Voters cast their ballots at a polling place on election day in East Point, Georgia, on 5 November 2024. Photograph: Elijah Nouvelage/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenVoters cast their ballots at a polling place on election day in East Point, Georgia, on 5 November 2024. Photograph: Elijah Nouvelage/AFP/Getty ImagesThe fight for democracyUS voting rightsWhy red states are pushing back on Trump administration’s request for voter dataRepublican-controlled states cite legal grounds of DoJ’s request, concerns over data security and privacy laws The fight for democracy is supported byAbout this contentCy NeffFri 1 May 2026 07.00 EDTLast modified on Fri 1 May 2026 07.02 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe Department of Justice’s quest to secure sensitive voter data is finding…
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