League of Women Voters sues DHS over 47‑state voter data collection
The League of Women Voters, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the League of United Latin American Citizens filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday in Washington, D.C., accusing the Department of Homeland Security of illegally gathering and merging voter registration files from at least 47 states.
The suit alleges that the department’s data‑collection program breaches federal privacy laws and ignores safeguards designed to protect the personal information of millions of American voters, a concern that gains urgency with the national election less than three weeks away.
According to the complaint, DHS obtained voter files through a secretive policy that combines state‑level registration data with commercial datasets, creating a comprehensive database that includes sensitive personal details. Plaintiffs contend that the agency’s actions contravene statutes that limit the federal government’s ability to acquire and use voter information without explicit consent.
The lawsuit frames the effort as part of the Trump administration’s broader push to combat non‑citizen voting, a claim the administration has repeatedly promoted despite studies showing such incidents are rare. Officials in roughly 30 states have previously refused federal requests for voter data, yet the complaint says DHS proceeded to collect files regardless of those refusals.
Relief sought includes a declaration that the data‑collection policy is illegal, a permanent injunction preventing DHS from continuing the program, and a court order requiring the department to delete all voter information it has already compiled.
DHS did not respond to requests for comment. The filing follows a pattern of courts rejecting similar federal attempts to compel states to turn over voter information, reinforcing the long‑standing balance of power between state election administration and federal oversight.
The case is set to move forward in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, with a hearing scheduled in the coming weeks. Legal analysts say the outcome could shape how federal agencies handle voter data and influence the administration’s broader strategy on election integrity ahead of the November vote.
