US federal agency voter data and election litigation

Legal challenges have emerged regarding the access and use of sensitive voter information by federal agencies. In Alaska, a Superior Court judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters, the Alaska Black Caucus, and the ACLU. The plaintiffs allege the Alaska Division of Elections violated the state constitution by providing the U.S. Department of Justice with unredacted voter lists containing driver’s license numbers, home addresses, and partial Social Security numbers. The court noted the state failed to negotiate restrictions, effectively giving the agency “carte blanche” to request data.

In Kentucky, voting rights and privacy groups have filed a federal lawsuit alleging the Department of Homeland Security has systematically collected sensitive data on voters despite state refusal. Advocates warn that using such data for immigration enforcement could create a “chilling effect” at the polls.

Concurrently, the Department of Justice is facing scrutiny for its involvement in legal actions targeting vote counting processes. In Alaska, the DOJ is attempting to block the certification of a Senate race, citing potential voter confusion. In California, the DOJ has sought to prevent the counting of approximately 20,000 ballots due to concerns regarding voter citizenship status.