The Department of Justice filed lawsuits Tuesday against Maine and Oregon, accusing both states of violating federal law by refusing to provide voter registration lists, including information on ineligible voters. Officials said the action marks the first legal step to enforce federal compliance after requesting similar records from at least 26 states, according to the Associated Press.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the lawsuits are intended to protect election integrity and ensure equal access to ballots. “States simply cannot pick and choose which federal laws they will comply with, including our voting laws,” she said, stressing that refusal to maintain accurate voter rolls undermines confidence in elections.
State officials pushed back strongly. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read argued the DOJ’s demands threaten voter privacy, warning he would countersue if forced to comply. “If the President wants to use the DOJ to go after his political opponents and undermine our elections, I look forward to seeing them in court,” Read said. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows called the effort “absurd,” highlighting her state’s bipartisan reputation for well-run elections.
The lawsuits deepen a broader clash between state governments and the federal administration over control of election systems and voter data protections.
Sources
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