PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Ten Democratic secretaries of state sent a letter to the Trump administration expressing significant concerns over its attempts to seek statewide voter registration lists. They indicated that federal agencies may have provided misleading information and that voter data might be entered into a program for verifying U.S. citizenship.
In correspondence addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the officials raised their immense concern regarding reports that the Justice Department had shared voter information from states with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
They stated, Given the unprecedented nature and scope of the DOJ’s requests, we require additional information about how this information will be used, shared, and secured. However, no immediate comment was received from the Justice Department or DHS in response to the requests.
The request for voter data by the Republican administration has led to substantial contention with Democratic states, especially with the 2026 midterm elections approaching. Recently, the Justice Department has asked for data from at least 26 states—some under Republican leadership—and has resorted to legal action against eight states that have not complied. Concurrently, voting rights advocates have initiated lawsuits against the administration, alleging that recent modifications to a federal citizenship verification tool could lead to unlawful voter purges.
Many states are either providing redacted voter lists publicly or rejecting these requests, invoking state laws or the Justice Department’s failure to comply with federal Privacy Act requirements. The Justice Department has frequently requested copies of voter lists that include personally identifiable information, like names, birth dates, addresses, and even partial Social Security numbers.
Interestingly, even certain Republican-led states, such as South Carolina, have faced challenges in fulfilling these requests, indicating a possible bipartisan concern over the administration's handling of voter information.
In their letter, the secretaries of state emphasized concerns regarding misleading and contradictory information shared during two recent meetings organized by the National Association of Secretaries of State. In one instance, a DOJ official indicated that the data would be used to ensure compliance with federal voting laws, while DHS later indicated that it had received voter data for entry into a program intended for citizenship verification, contrary to previous statements.
The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has been used extensively by officials to verify the citizenship status of applicants for public benefits. Updates to the SAVE program earlier this year have made it easier for election officials to manage records.
The Democratic secretaries of state are demanding clarity on whether the DOJ has shared or plans to share voter files with DHS or other federal bodies, and if so, how this data would be utilized. They specifically questioned the consistency of DHS's assertions regarding the use of voter information and the privacy protections in place to secure this sensitive data.
The letter was signed by secretaries from Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, with a deadline for responses set for December 1.
