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DOJ Sues Arizona and Connecticut to Force Release of Voter Rolls

The filings escalate a federal bid that courts will now weigh against state privacy protections.

Overview

  • The Justice Department filed the cases Tuesday, making Arizona and Connecticut the 22nd and 23rd states targeted in a nationwide effort to obtain unredacted voter registration lists.
  • Attorney General Pam Bondi argues the Civil Rights Act of 1960 authorizes her to obtain statewide registration data to assess list maintenance and compliance.
  • Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes says disclosure would violate state and federal privacy laws, vows not to comply, and responded to DOJ’s post by telling officials to "pound sand."
  • Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes pledged to defend the state, stating that voters’ private registration information is not subject to unrestricted release.
  • Voting-rights groups warn of privacy risks and potential voter purges, citing a Stateline memo indicating DOJ plans to share the data with DHS, as demands have gone to at least 40 states and Washington, D.C.