Justice Department Sues Maine and Oregon Over Voter Data Access Demands

The Justice Department Sues Maine and Oregon Over Voter Data Requests The U.S. Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against the secretaries of state in Maine and Oregon, seeking access to sensitive voter registration data, including partial Social Security numbers. According to court documents, the DOJ is demanding that both states hand over their voter registration lists, which contain personal information such as names, addresses, dates of birth, and partial Social Security numbers. The department has asked for this data from numerous states, but Oregon and Maine are the first to be sued. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, a Democrat, responded to the lawsuit by stating, "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." He added, "I stand by my oath to the people of Oregon, and I will protect their rights and privacy." Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows also pushed back against the DOJ's demands. In a statement, she said, "We have consistently maintained that providing the federal government with Maine's voter registration list would be an unnecessary and unjustified intrusion into our state's sovereignty." The Justice Department's move is part of a broader effort to collect sensitive voting data from states across the country. The department has asked for this information under the guise of election security, but critics argue that it could be used to target voters with specific demographics or ideologies. Experts point out that the DOJ's actions are unprecedented and raise concerns about voter intimidation and manipulation. "This is a new low in the politicization of the Justice Department," said Richard Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Irvine. "The department should be focused on protecting voters' rights, not undermining them." The lawsuits against Maine and Oregon come as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The outcome of these cases will have significant implications for voting rights and election security. In a statement, the Justice Department said it would continue to pursue its efforts to collect voter registration data from states across the country. "We are committed to ensuring the integrity of our elections and protecting the rights of all voters," a spokesperson said. The court cases against Maine and Oregon are ongoing, with no trial date set yet. The outcome will be closely watched by election officials, voting rights advocates, and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. *Reporting by Npr.*