DOJ Sues Kentucky’s Secretary of State After Refusal to Release Full Voter Database
The U.S. Department of Justice has sued Kentucky’s top elections official after the state declined to provide a full copy of its statewide voter registration database, escalating a growing dispute over federal access to voter-roll data.
The lawsuit, filed Feb. 26 in federal court, names Secretary of State Michael Adams in his official capacity and alleges Kentucky failed to produce the complete voter list “with all fields” after a formal records demand.
According to DOJ’s complaint, the department issued a written request under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 seeking access to election records to evaluate compliance with federal voter maintenance requirements under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.
DOJ says Kentucky did not provide certain requested data elements after initial outreach in 2025 and subsequent follow-ups, prompting the federal filing.
Related: Pam Bondi Demands WV Voter Records, Sues After Kris Warner Refuses “All Fields”
“Accurate, well-maintained voter rolls are a requisite for the election integrity that the American people deserve,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a DOJ statement announcing the action.
Kentucky officials have maintained that some requested fields involve sensitive personal identifiers and are protected under state privacy provisions, setting up a legal clash over whether federal oversight authority compels full disclosure.
The lawsuit against Kentucky is part of a broader push announced the same day targeting Utah, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and New Jersey for similar alleged failures to provide complete voter registration records.
The next phase will unfold in federal court, where Kentucky is expected to respond and judges will determine whether DOJ’s cited statutes authorize access to the full database, including the most sensitive data fields.
For now, Kentucky joins a widening national court fight over who controls access to America’s voter rolls.
Related: Trump Threatens Executive Order on Voter ID if Senate Won’t Vote on SAVE Act