Litigation
U.S. v. Thomas
The Trump administration has sued several states, including Connecticut, in an attempt to collect non-public voter files with sensitive voter data – now, Common Cause has been granted a motion to intervene in the lawsuit on behalf of Connecticut.
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Common Cause Granted Motion to Intervene in DOJ Lawsuit Demanding Connecticut Voter File
What the DOJ Lawsuit Against Connecticut Demands
Common Cause filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice against Connecticut that demands it hand over its non-public voter file. A district court has granted our motion, meaning Common Cause is now party to the lawsuit, and we are seeking its dismissal.
What Are State Voter Files and Who Has the Legal Authority to Control 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 Connecticut Is Refusing to Hand Over Voter Data to the Trump Administration
Most of these states, including Connecticut, have resisted pressure from the DOJ to hand over voter data. Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas explained that voters must be able to trust that they can participate in elections “without fear that their information will be misused or exposed.” Now, they’re among the several states being sued for their non-public voter file by the Trump administration. In response, Common Cause has filed motions to intervene in several of these lawsuits. Our motion in Connecticut was granted.
What’s Next in the Connecticut Voter File Case?
Moving forward, the State of Connecticut, 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.
How a Trump Administration Master Voter File Threatens 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 Purge Eligible Voters
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 in Connecticut 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.
What does it mean that Common Cause was granted a motion to intervene in the Connecticut voter file lawsuit?
When a court grants a motion to intervene, it means Common Cause is now an official party to the lawsuit — not just an outside observer. This allows Common Cause to actively participate in the legal proceedings alongside the State of Connecticut and fight directly to have the DOJ’s lawsuit dismissed, blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to seize Connecticut’s non-public voter file.
What sensitive information is in Connecticut's voter file, and why is the Trump administration demanding it?
Connecticut’s voter file contains highly sensitive personal data, including full names, home addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. The Trump administration is seeking to consolidate voter files from multiple states into a national master voter file. Connecticut’s Secretary of State has warned that this could expose voters to having their information misused, and that it risks being used to spread disinformation or purge eligible voters from the rolls.
Is the DOJ sharing state voter data with the Department of Homeland Security?
Yes — the DOJ has already acknowledged sharing voter information with DHS. This is particularly alarming for immigrant communities and communities of color in Connecticut, who may be intimidated from registering to vote or participating in elections if they know their personal information could be accessed by federal immigration enforcement agencies.
