The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 22, 2025
The U.S. Department of Justice sent letters to 12 secretaries of state requesting their complete voter records as part of President Trump’s executive order on elections. The reason for the request isn’t completely clear, nor is the legality of such a request, which may violate the privacy and free speech rights of U.S. citizens.
Back in May we reported that DOJ requested records on Colorado’s 4.65 million registered voters. To date, similar letters have been received by Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
An email sent to Rhode Island officials from the DOJ’s Civil Rights division asks to collect QUOTE, … Voting information as part of the Department’s efforts
to implement President Trump’s Executive Order, ‘Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.’” It goes on to request a discussion on sharing information to find illegally registered voters, fraudulent voters and enforcement of federal election law. New Hampshire’s secretary of state declined, citing state statute keeping voter rolls “private and confidential”.
In addition to the herculean logistics of such a request, Loyola Marymount Law School’s Justin Levitt writes that such requests may not be legal under the Privacy Act of 1974, prohibiting the federal government from obtaining information on free speech activities, including voting and other personal information.
We’ve linked the DOJ letters at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Stateline/States Newsroom – Trump’s DOJ wants states to turn over voter lists, election info
Democracy Docket – All the States Where DOJ is Demanding Voting Data
Rhode Island Current – DOJ asked about R.I. voter rolls 8 days ago. Secretary of State Gregg Amore hasn’t answered yet.
Rhode Island Current – Email from DOJ to Rhode Island Election Officials
New Hampshire Public Radio – NH Secretary of State rebuffs Trump administration request for state’s voter roll
New Hampshire Public Radio – DOJ Letter to NH Secretary of State
Election Law Blog – Professor Justin Levitt, Loyola Merrymount Law School – The recent rash of DOJ voter file “requests”
Groups Taking Action:
ACLU, League of Women Voters, LULAC
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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