Idaho Secretary of State Refuses to Share Voter Data with Justice Department

Cites privacy concerns and lack of legal duty to provide sensitive personal information

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane has refused a request from the U.S. Department of Justice to provide the state's full voter registration list, including sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers and driver's license details. McGrane cited Idaho's strict laws governing voter data disclosure and concerns over the protection of Idahoans' personal information.

Why it matters

This decision highlights the ongoing tensions between state election officials and the federal government over voter data sharing. Some states have pushed back against Justice Department demands, citing privacy rights and the lack of a clear legal requirement to provide such sensitive information.

The details

In a letter to the Justice Department, McGrane stated that his office had already provided a publicly available voter registration list that did not include the sensitive personal data requested. However, he said Idaho law does not require his office to share the full voter roll with the federal government, especially given recent revelations that sensitive data from federal systems had been shared with unauthorized parties.

  • On February 26, 2026, McGrane sent a letter to the Justice Department declining the request for Idaho's full voter data.
  • In September 2025, the Justice Department initially asked Idaho to turn over its full voter registration records.

The players

Phil McGrane

The Republican Idaho Secretary of State who is running for re-election and has refused to provide the Justice Department with Idaho's full voter registration list, citing privacy concerns and a lack of legal duty to do so.

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal agency that has sued more than two dozen states for refusing to turn over their voter registration lists with sensitive personal information, though federal judges have dismissed some of these lawsuits.

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What they’re saying

“My responsibility as Idaho's Secretary of State is to administer elections in accordance with state and federal law and to safeguard the sensitive information entrusted to this office by Idaho citizens.”

— Phil McGrane, Idaho Secretary of State (Idaho Capital Sun)

“While I appreciate the Department's representation that Idaho's data will be safeguarded, I cannot take that now-apparent risk in the absence of clear legal duty to do so.”

— Phil McGrane, Idaho Secretary of State (Idaho Capital Sun)

What’s next

The Justice Department has hinted it may sue Idaho for not complying with its request, though federal judges have dismissed similar lawsuits against other states.

The takeaway

This standoff between Idaho and the Justice Department underscores the ongoing debate over voter data privacy and the balance between state and federal authority over election administration. It remains to be seen whether the federal government will pursue legal action against Idaho for refusing to share its full voter roll.