Illinois Election Board Defends Voter Roll Practices to DOJ

The Illinois State Board of Elections told the U.S. Department of Justice that it complies with all federal voter‑registration laws and maintains accurate voter rolls. In a letter signed by board general counsel Marni Malowitz, the board said its “comprehensive list‑maintenance framework, consistent with the National Voter Registration Act, ensures free and fair elections,” and rejected the DOJ’s threat of criminal prosecution for allowing non‑citizens to remain on the rolls.

The DOJ had sent a July 7 letter to election officials in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., demanding a detailed explanation within five days of how they identify and remove ineligible or inactive voters. The Illinois board’s response emphasized that the department had presented no credible evidence of voter fraud and argued that states have primary responsibility for administering federal elections.

The dispute occurs amid the Trump administration’s broader push for federal control of elections, including a March 2025 executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to compile a national list of confirmed U.S. citizens eligible to vote and efforts to advance the SAVE Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID before voting. Federal judges in multiple districts have ruled the DOJ lacks statutory authority to demand unredacted voter‑registration databases.