DOJ's Letter to Utah Lt. Gov. Henderson: Voter Roll Compliance and Legal Battles
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has sent a letter to Utah's Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson regarding the state's voter rolls and election compliance, which she described as containing threats of criminal prosecution. The letter outlines the responsibilities of the chief election officer, in this case, the lieutenant governor, for local and state elections, as well as the potential civil and criminal penalties for failing to fulfill these duties. Specifically, the letter addresses the issue of keeping noncitizens on the voter registration list and assisting noncitizens in casting ballots, urging the state to maintain clean voter lists as required by law.
Lt. Gov. Henderson responded to the DOJ's letter by highlighting that demands for private voter data have been deemed illegal by multiple courts and expressing her belief that she is not the only chief election officer being targeted for following state and federal laws. She previously provided information on the number of non-citizens registered to vote in Utah, which was minimal, and emphasized the county clerks' obligation to conduct identity and citizenship checks for every voter registration.
The DOJ's efforts to ensure voting law compliance in all states, particularly concerning non-citizens being registered to vote, have been ongoing since July 2025. In February, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against Henderson over Utah's voter records, seeking full, unredacted voter information and accusing her of violating the Civil Rights Act. This legal battle is ongoing, with other states also facing similar lawsuits. Meanwhile, the Utah state legislature has passed bills introducing election reform measures, such as requiring proof of citizenship to vote and enhancing election office oversight.
The DOJ's letter to Lt. Gov. Henderson underscores the federal agency's commitment to addressing voting law compliance nationwide, with a specific focus on the issue of non-citizens being registered to vote. The ongoing legal dispute between the DOJ and Utah over voter records highlights the complexities surrounding election integrity and the importance of upholding state and federal laws in the electoral process.