The Trump administration is escalating its fight for election integrity, filing a new round of lawsuits against five states accused of refusing to hand over voter registration data that federal officials say is essential to ensuring clean and transparent elections.
The United States Department of Justice announced legal action against Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, and New Jersey, bringing the total number of states facing lawsuits over voter roll access to nearly 30 nationwide.
Officials say the effort is part of a broader push to enforce provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, which requires states to preserve and provide election records when requested by federal authorities. According to the Justice Department, those records—including voter registration lists—are critical tools for identifying irregularities and preventing fraud.
Leading the charge is Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who oversees the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. In a video statement, Dhillon announced the latest wave of litigation and made clear the administration has no intention of backing down.
“Exciting election law news here at the DOJ Civil Rights Division today,” Dhillon said. “We sued five additional states for their refusal to turn over voter rolls in response to the Attorney General’s request under the Civil Rights Act of 1960.”
Those states—Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, and New Jersey—join a growing list of jurisdictions accused of stonewalling federal investigators seeking transparency in voter registration systems.
“This brings us to almost 30 states that we are suing, in addition to the District of Columbia,” Dhillon explained. “And we will not rest until we have resolved this litigation throughout the United States.”
The lawsuits seek access to full voter registration lists, which can include identifying information such as driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. Justice Department officials argue that such information is necessary to identify duplicate registrations, deceased voters still on the rolls, or other irregularities that could undermine confidence in elections.
Critics on the left have objected to the requests, but the Trump administration maintains that transparency and accountability are non-negotiable when it comes to safeguarding American democracy.
The legal battles have already produced mixed results in the courts. Dhillon acknowledged that some lower courts have issued unfavorable rulings, but she emphasized that the administration is fighting back.
“There’s been a hodgepodge of issues that plaintiffs’ lawyers have thrown up against the wall,” she said. “So we have filed our notices of appeal promptly.”
Those appeals include cases in the Ninth Circuit involving Oregon and California, as well as a challenge in the Sixth Circuit following a recent ruling in Michigan.
The DOJ is also weighing in on a major election law case currently before the Supreme Court of the United States. The case, Watson v. Republican National Committee, centers on whether states can continue counting ballots that arrive well after Election Day.
In an amicus brief co-authored with the Solicitor General’s office, the federal government argues that federal law establishes a clear Election Day deadline and that prolonged ballot counting undermines public confidence.
“It would be great to have certainty around our elections like just about every other civilized country,” Dhillon said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed that message, framing the lawsuits as part of a broader effort to restore faith in America’s voting system.
“Accurate, well-maintained voter rolls are a requisite for the election integrity that the American people deserve,” Bondi said. “This latest series of litigation underscores that this Department of Justice is fulfilling its duty to ensure transparency, voter roll maintenance, and secure elections across the country.”
For supporters of the administration’s push, the message is simple: fair elections require accurate records—and the federal government intends to make sure states follow the law.
