New Hampshire Secretary of State Resists Trump Voter Data Order

Scanlan says federal government cannot force state to violate election privacy laws

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:36pm

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A highly stylized, abstract painting featuring a fractured, geometric depiction of a ballot box or voting booth in shades of blue, conveying the chaotic tension between state and federal control over elections.New Hampshire's resistance to federal demands for voter data highlights the ongoing power struggle over election integrity and privacy.Concord Today

New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan is pushing back against a recent executive order from President Donald Trump that directs the creation of a nationwide list of verified eligible voters. Scanlan says the federal government cannot compel New Hampshire to provide voter registration information, which the administration claims violates the Civil Rights Act, as that would force the state to violate its own election statutes that protect voter privacy.

Why it matters

This clash between the federal government and a state election official highlights the ongoing tensions over voting rights and election integrity. The Trump administration's efforts to gather voter data nationwide have faced resistance from states that prioritize voter privacy and autonomy in running their own elections.

The details

Scanlan, who is being sued by the Department of Justice for refusing to provide voter registration information, stated that the federal government cannot usurp New Hampshire's constitutional authority to manage its own elections. He said the administration's order would force the state to violate election laws that protect the privacy of voter data.

  • President Trump issued the executive order on Tuesday, April 2, 2026.

The players

David Scanlan

The New Hampshire Secretary of State who is pushing back against the Trump administration's order to provide voter data.

Donald Trump

The former president who issued the executive order directing the creation of a nationwide voter registration list.

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal agency that is suing Scanlan for refusing to provide voter registration information.

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What they’re saying

“The federal government cannot usurp New Hampshire's express constitutional authority to run elections and cannot compel New Hampshire to violate state and federal election statutes, including those that protect the privacy of voter information.”

— David Scanlan, New Hampshire Secretary of State

What’s next

The lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice against Scanlan is ongoing, and the outcome could set a precedent for how states handle federal demands for voter data in the future.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the continued battle over voting rights and election integrity, with states seeking to protect voter privacy and autonomy in the face of federal efforts to gather nationwide voter data.