DOJ Sues States Over Voter Data Demands Ahead of Midterms

Lawsuits aim to obtain personal voter information, raising concerns about election integrity

Mar. 14, 2026 at 2:02am

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The U.S. Department of Justice has sued 29 states and D.C. over their refusal to provide unredacted voter rolls that include driver's license and partial Social Security numbers of voters. The DOJ claims this data is necessary to ensure election security, but election experts say there is no urgent need and the requests may be an attempt to undermine confidence in the upcoming midterm elections.

Why it matters

The DOJ's aggressive push for voter data has raised concerns that the Trump administration may use the information to target political opponents or create a national voter list, potentially casting doubt on the validity of the 2026 midterm elections if the data is not provided.

The details

The DOJ has lost three lawsuits so far this year in California, Michigan and Oregon, but is appealing the losses. In emergency motions, the DOJ has warned that without the voter data, the 'security and sanctity of elections' would be questioned in those states. Election experts say federal courts are unlikely to rule quickly in the DOJ's favor, and that even if the data is obtained, there may not be enough time to properly analyze it before the midterms due to legal restrictions on voter roll purges close to elections.

  • The DOJ began sending letters to states demanding voter data months ago, followed by lawsuits against states that refused to comply.
  • The DOJ has asked for all court documents in its Michigan appeal to be filed by April 1, just 35 days before the pre-primary blackout period begins in the state.

The players

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal agency that has sued 29 states and D.C. over their refusal to provide unredacted voter rolls, claiming the data is necessary to ensure election security.

Jocelyn Benson

The Democratic Secretary of State of Michigan, who has urged election officials across the country to 'safeguard citizens' private voting information' against the DOJ's demands.

Tobias Read

The Democratic Secretary of State of Oregon, who said he is 'confident in our case, and trust the courts will continue to uphold the Constitution and the privacy rights of all Oregonians.'

Shirley Weber

The Democratic Secretary of State of California.

David Becker

The executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research and a former senior trial attorney in the DOJ's Voting Section.

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What they’re saying

“The fear alone of this is going to make people withdraw.”

— Rosario Palacios, Leader, Common Cause Georgia

What’s next

The judge in the Michigan case will decide by April 1 whether to rule in the DOJ's favor and compel the state to provide the voter data.

The takeaway

The DOJ's aggressive pursuit of voter data ahead of the 2026 midterm elections has raised serious concerns about potential efforts to undermine confidence in the electoral process, even as election experts say there is no urgent need for the information and that obtaining it in time may not be feasible.