The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has demanded that the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) provide a complete, unredacted copy of its statewide voter registration database by September 1. This request is part of the DOJ’s stated effort to ensure Illinois is complying with federal laws, specifically the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, which requires states to maintain accurate and up-to-date voter rolls. The ISBE has already provided a redacted version of the database, which includes names, addresses, and voting history—the same information that is releasable to political committees and other government agencies under Illinois law. However, this version does not include sensitive personal information like dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.
The ISBE argues that both state and federal laws, including the Illinois Identity Protection Act and the federal Privacy Act, prohibit it from releasing this sensitive data. The DOJ, citing its authority under the NVRA and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, insists that it needs the full, but has not publicly explained why this specific personal information is necessary for its effort to enforce laws about voter roll maintenance.
The sensitive data requested by the DOJ—dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers—are key identifiers for individuals. This is because these pieces of information, especially when combined, can uniquely identify a person and link them to other data sets. The last four digits of a Social Security number (SSN) are particularly valuable because they are often used as a secure form of verification to access other personal information. When paired with other details like a name, address, and date of birth, it becomes a powerful tool for confirming a person’s identity and can potentially be used to access other records. The combination of these specific data points is a standard method for government agencies and financial institutions to confirm who a person is.
- Voter Eligibility Verification
- Law Enforcement and Investigative Purposes
- Data Auditing and Analysis
- Protection from Intimidation and Coercion – The principle of a secret ballot is a cornerstone of democracy. It ensures that voters can make their choices without fear of retaliation, intimidation, or coercion from employers, landlords, political parties, or other individuals. If a voter’s choices could be linked to their identity, it would create a risk of “vote buying” or threats, undermining the integrity of the election. While the unredacted voter file doesn’t reveal who a person voted for, a detailed public record of their personal information and voting history could be used by those with malicious intent.
- Safeguarding Personal and Sensitive Information – Voter registration databases contain a trove of personally identifiable information (PII). While most states make basic information like a voter’s name and address public, sensitive data like dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and Social Security numbers are typically kept private. Releasing this information increases the risk of identity theft and fraud. This is especially a concern for vulnerable individuals, such as survivors of domestic violence, who may have gone to great lengths to keep their location and personal information confidential. Forcing the release of this data could put them at risk.
- Preventing Unwanted Targeting and Profiling – Political campaigns, data brokers, and other organizations routinely use publicly available voter data to target individuals for advertising and outreach. They combine voter registration lists with consumer data from other sources to create detailed profiles of citizens, including their shopping habits, hobbies, and political leanings. This level of profiling can lead to highly personalized and potentially manipulative messaging. When more sensitive PII is released, it allows for even more precise and invasive targeting.
- Risk of Data Breaches and Misuse – State and federal voter databases are prime targets for cyberattacks. A security breach could expose the personal information of millions of citizens to bad actors, including foreign governments and criminals. The article notes that several states have already experienced data leaks, highlighting the real-world vulnerability of these systems.
Now show this to your MAGA relative, and watch the mental gymnastics they perform to show why this is not an over reach of government.
Maybe present it as something that Biden did, and when they get all fumed up over it, and list the 1000 ways this is wrong, let them know it was Trump actually, and then everything will be fine.
A MAGA will eat a shit sandwich on the off chance a Liberal or Democrat might smell their breath