DOJ Faces Pushback as Utah Moves to Kill Lawsuit Over Voter Data Demand
Utah is asking a federal judge to dismiss a Department of Justice lawsuit seeking access to private voter data, intensifying a legal clash over election authority and privacy.
The case centers on whether the federal government can compel states to hand over sensitive voter information, including partial Social Security numbers and driver’s license data.
According to KSL, the DOJ sued Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson after Utah declined to provide its full voter registration database, instead offering only publicly available records. The department argues federal law allows it to obtain the data to ensure voter rolls are properly maintained.
Utah disputes that claim, arguing the request goes beyond what federal law permits and risks exposing protected personal information. The state is now asking the court to throw out the lawsuit entirely.
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“Neither state nor federal law entitles the Department of Justice to collect private information on law-abiding American citizens,” Henderson said.
The dispute is part of a broader national effort by the DOJ, which has filed similar lawsuits against multiple states. Courts in some cases, including California and Michigan, have already rejected those efforts, citing legal and privacy concerns.
What happens next depends on how the federal court interprets the balance between election oversight and state control of voter data.
The ruling could shape how far federal authorities can go in accessing voter records.
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