Title: U.S. Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Washington Secretary of State Over Voter Registration Records
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs for allegedly violating federal law by not providing statewide voter registration records requested under the Civil Rights Act of 1960. The DOJ claims that the request is part of a review of how Washington maintains its voter rolls under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act. Federal law allows the Attorney General broad authority to access election-related documents, including voter registration lists with full identifying information.
The DOJ sent a letter to Hobbs on Sept. 8 requesting a current electronic copy of Washington's statewide voter registration list, including full names, addresses, dates of birth, driver's license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers. The request was made based on Washington's reported data in the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's 2024 Election Administration and Voting Survey. The DOJ needs the unredacted list to evaluate Washington's compliance with voter registration laws.
Hobbs rejected the request in a letter on Sept. 23, citing Washington state law that prohibits the release of certain personal information, including birthdates and partial Social Security or driver's license numbers. The DOJ argues that federal investigations are not subject to state public disclosure laws and that federal law allows access to driver's license data for enforcement purposes. The DOJ is seeking a court order to compel Hobbs to provide the entire voter database within five days through a secure encrypted portal.
The lawsuit focuses on Washington's refusal to provide the data needed for the compliance review, rather than alleging wrongdoing in the state's voting system. If the court grants the DOJ's motion, Washington will have to provide the full statewide voter list, including protected personal information, for federal inspection, copying, and analysis. KIRO 7 News has contacted Secretary Hobbs' office for comment.
In conclusion, the U.S. Department of Justice is taking legal action against Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs for not complying with a request for statewide voter registration records. The lawsuit aims to ensure that Washington provides the necessary data for a federal compliance review of its voter registration practices.