Here is an awesome news nugget that many people may haves missed.
Trump’s DOJ wants states to turn over voter lists, election info
- Broad Scope of Requests: The requests vary by state, but the demand to Colorado is particularly sweeping, asking for “all records related to the 2024 election,” which could include ballots and voting equipment. Letters to other states, including Alaska, Arizona, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania, have focused on how states handle voter registration and identify noncitizen voters.
- Privacy and Legality: Experts question the purpose of these demands, noting they do not align with typical law enforcement investigations. They express concern that the DOJ seems intent on acquiring sensitive personal data, such as driver’s license and Social Security numbers, which are typically protected under federal and state law.
- Uncertainty and Anxiety: The article notes that the requests have created a high level of anxiety among state election administrators, who are unsure how to respond.
State and Political Responses
- State Resistance: Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, stated her belief that the administration is “trying to undermine our elections.” Other states, like Wisconsin, have responded by simply providing information on how the DOJ can request publicly available voter data.
- Political Operatives: A political operative claiming to represent the White House has approached Republican county clerks in Colorado to enlist their support for the administration’s “election integrity efforts.” Some Republican clerks have reportedly resisted these efforts.
- Cooperation: Other states have chosen to cooperate with the administration. The secretaries of state in Indiana and Alabama, both Republicans, have announced agreements with the federal government to access databases to verify the citizenship of registered voters.