Michigan Secretary of State Challenges DOJ Voter Data Request in Federal Court
Michigan’s Secretary of State accuses Trump’s DOJ of seeking voter data for “improper purposes” in federal court challenge over access to millions of Americans’ voting records.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN — Michigan’s top election official accused the Trump administration’s Department of Justice of seeking sensitive voter data for “improper purposes” in a federal appeals court filing Monday, escalating a legal battle over access to millions of Americans’ personal voting information.
Attorneys for Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson filed a brief in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals arguing that the Justice Department’s stated justification for obtaining voter rolls masks the administration’s true intentions. The legal challenge reflects growing concerns among Democratic state election officials that the Trump administration aims to compile voter data to influence upcoming midterm elections.
Nationwide Legal Battle Over Voter Information
The Justice Department is currently suing 29 states for refusing to provide voter information, claiming it needs the data to evaluate efforts to clean and maintain voter rolls, including determining whether noncitizens are registered to vote. However, Benson’s brief characterizes this explanation as “a pretext for improper purposes.”
Michigan and other states contend the Trump administration is effectively building a nationwide voter registration list, a move they argue is not authorized under the 1960 Civil Rights Act. The Justice Department has cited this federal law, designed to combat voting discrimination, as justification for demanding states turn over voter data.
Allegations of Federal Overreach
“Collecting Michigan’s voter data to conduct its own list maintenance and to use Michigan’s list as part of creating a national voter file is not encompassed within the purpose stated in DOJ’s demand, which is simply ‘to ascertain Michigan’s compliance with the list maintenance requirements'” of federal election laws, Benson’s brief states.
The filing further argues that “creating a national voter file of U.S. Citizens is beyond any purpose contemplated by the (Civil Rights Act).”
The legal dispute stems from a February ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Hala Jarbou, who determined that the Justice Department is not entitled to Michigan’s unredacted voter list containing driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.
Privacy Concerns at Center of Dispute
The case highlights tensions between federal oversight of election administration and state concerns about voter privacy. Michigan officials argue that releasing sensitive personal information could compromise voter security and exceed federal authority under existing civil rights legislation.
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals will now consider whether the lower court’s ruling should stand, as the Justice Department seeks to obtain comprehensive voter data from states across the country. The outcome could establish precedent for similar disputes in other jurisdictions where state officials have resisted federal demands for detailed voter information.
The legal battle comes as election officials prepare for the upcoming midterm elections, with state administrators emphasizing the importance of maintaining voter confidence in election security and data protection.
