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U.S. v. Griswold
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DOJ Lawsuit Demanding State Voter Files Explained
Last year, Common Cause filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice against Colorado that demands it hand over its voter file.
What Are State Voter Files and Who Controls Them?
By law, states, not the federal government, have the authority to maintain their voter files, which contain sensitive information including full names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license and partial Social Security numbers. However, the Trump administration has been on a quest to collect these databases to assemble their own master voter file, a move that threatens the integrity of our elections and risks disenfranchising many Americans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Why States Like Colorado Are Refusing to Hand Over Voter Data
Most of these states, including Colorado, have resisted pressure from the DOJ to hand over voter data. Colorado Attorney General Jena Griswald questioned the administration’s motives in demanding the voter file, voicing concern that they are “collecting in an unprecedented way mass voter data and dumping it into an untested, unverified federal system to spread voter disinformation.”
How Common Cause Is Intervening in DOJ Voter File Lawsuits
Now, they’re among the several states being sued for the voter file by the Trump administration. In response, Common Cause has filed motions to intervene in several of these lawsuits, including in Colorado.
What’s Next in This Case?
Ultimately, the State of Colorado, Common Cause, and its partners are seeking the dismissal of this lawsuit, which would reject the Trump administration’s attempt to collect this sensitive data.
What Is at Risk If the DOJ Gets Ahold of State Voter Files?
Trump has repeatedly signaled his willingness to undermine our democracy to stay in power. Whether continuing to spread disproven conspiracies about the 2020 election or calling on Republicans to “nationalize the voting,” he has shown time and again that winning is more important to him than a fair and free democracy.
The Threat of a National Master Voter File to Election Integrity
Demanding state voter files is another attempt to undermine states’ statutory power to manage elections, and the disenfranchisement that the Trump administration could carry out with a master national voter file is deeply concerning.
How a Federal Voter Database Could Be Used to Suppress Votes
A list like this could be used to conduct strategic and widespread purges of eligible voters from voter rolls, including purges that are targeted based on factors like location, age, and gender in an effort to gain a partisan advantage.
Why Immigrant and Minority Communities Face Heightened Risk
And given the Department of Homeland Security’s cruel attacks on immigrants and communities of color, regardless of their citizenship status, a potential federal database like this poses even greater risk – already, the DOJ has acknowledged that it is sharing voter information with DHS. Knowing that the federal government has collected a database of sensitive information could intimidate potential voters from these communities and prevent them from registering to vote.
F.A.Q.
Can the federal government legally force states to hand over their voter files?
States have the statutory authority to maintain and control their own voter files under existing law. The Trump administration’s DOJ has filed lawsuits against states like Colorado that have refused to comply with demands for voter data, but Common Cause and state attorneys general are contesting the legal basis for these demands and seeking dismissal of the lawsuits.
What sensitive information is stored in state voter files, and why does it matter who has access?
State voter files contain highly sensitive personal data, including full names, home addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. If the federal government were to consolidate this data into a national master voter file, it could be used to conduct targeted purges of eligible voters and, according to Colorado’s Attorney General, spread voter disinformation through an “untested, unverified federal system.”
Is the DOJ sharing state voter data with other federal agencies like DHS?
The DOJ has already acknowledged sharing voter information with the Department of Homeland Security. This raises serious concerns for immigrant communities and people of color, who may face intimidation or barriers to voter registration if a federal database of this sensitive information is assembled and shared across agencies.
