Wisconsin GOP Files Amicus Brief to Back DOJ in Voter Rolls Lawsuit
The Republican Party of Wisconsin has filed an amicus brief supporting the U.S. Department of Justice in its federal lawsuit against the Wisconsin Elections Commission over access to the state’s voter rolls — a move that escalates the legal fight over election data.
The brief, filed Feb. 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, argues the DOJ must be allowed to continue its investigation into whether the state’s voter rolls are properly maintained.
According to the GOP, the Wisconsin Elections Commission has “failed to do its job” keeping registration lists up-to-date and free of ineligible entries. The party is urging the court to compel WEC to confidentially provide the unredacted voter registration data requested by the DOJ, including personally identifiable information.
Related: DOJ Seeks Full Wisconsin Voter Rolls as Former Trump Lawyer Joins Case
This brief aligns the state GOP with a federal lawsuit that has drawn multiple parties, including Democrats and advocacy groups, filing on opposite sides of the issue. The push to provide complete voter information has become a flashpoint in voting rights debates nationwide.
“Wisconsin voters have a right to elections they can trust,” said Brian Schimming, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
Supporters of the DOJ’s position say accurate voter rolls are essential for lawful elections and federal enforcement of civil rights laws.
Opponents argue that providing sensitive personal information raises privacy concerns and that the state has complied with existing laws.
The court’s next steps include hearings on the motions from all parties and decisions on whether the DOJ’s demands for voter data can proceed under federal law.
Related: Court Orders DOJ to Fast-Track Records on Federal Push for State Voter Rolls