Litigation
U.S. v. Amore
Last year, Common Cause filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice against Rhode Island that demands it hand over its voter file. A district court has granted our motion, meaning Common Cause is now party to the lawsuit, and we are seeking its dismissal.
Common Cause Granted Motion to Intervene in Rhode Island Voter File Case
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.
Secretary of State Greg Amore Defends Rhode Island Voter Privacy
Most of these states, including Rhode Island, have resisted pressure from the DOJ to hand over voter data. Rhode Island Secretary of State Greg Amore rejected the attempt, informing the federal government that they are free to access the public data available on Rhode Island voters, but that he will not hand over sensitive data without a court order. 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. Our motion in Rhode Island was granted.
What’s next in this case?
Moving forward, the State of Rhode Island, Common Cause, and its partners are seeking the dismissal of this lawsuit, which would reject the Trump administrations 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.
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.
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.
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.
Why is Secretary Greg Amore refusing to hand over Rhode Island's voter file?
Secretary Greg Amore has taken a firm stance on protecting voter privacy, stating that while public voter data is accessible, he will not hand over sensitive, non-public information—such as partial Social Security numbers or driver’s license data—to the federal government without a direct court order. He argues this is necessary to maintain the security and trust of the Rhode Island electorate.
What sensitive information is at stake in the Rhode Island voter file?
The “non-public” voter files demanded by the DOJ contain highly personal data, including full names, residential addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers. Common Cause and state officials contend that centralizing this data in a federal “master file” creates significant risks for identity theft and government overreach.
How could a national voter database lead to targeted voter purges?
A centralized federal voter database allows for the analysis of voter rolls at a national scale. Advocates warn this information could be used to conduct strategic voter purges ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, targeting specific demographics based on location, age, and gender to gain a partisan advantage.
How does the DOJ sharing voter data with the DHS impact Rhode Island voters?
The DOJ has admitted to sharing voter records with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This practice can create a “chilling effect” among immigrant communities and communities of color in Rhode Island, as the fear of federal surveillance may intimidate eligible citizens and prevent them from registering to vote.
