DOJ Sues Illinois for Voter Data

The United States — United States Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, has initiated lawsuits against United States — Illinois and 29 other states, along with Washington, D.C., to gain access to complete, unredacted voter registration data. Documents filed in federal court by intervening groups, including the United States — Illinois, suggest that the United States — United States Department of Justice's stated reason for seeking the data—to ensure compliance with voter list maintenance—is a pretext. Internal emails from former United States — United States Department of Justice officials like Michael Gates and Eric Neff indicate an intent to use the data in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security's United States — Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database to purge suspected noncitizens from voter rolls. This database has been criticized for its inaccuracy. Watchdog groups Common Cause and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington have also filed a lawsuit against the United States — United States Department of Justice, alleging that these actions threaten voting and privacy rights. United States — Illinois has refused to provide the unredacted data, offering only partially redacted files. Motions to dismiss the United States — United States Department of Justice's lawsuits have been granted in six other states, with no court yet ruling in favor of the United States — United States Department of Justice's request.