The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 10, 2025
The Trump administration confirmed in September it is sharing drivers license and Social Security information among federal agencies from a massive database of personal and voter data. A class action lawsuit by voters and pro-voter groups has been filed to stop it.
Since May, 38 states have received requests to turn over voter registration and voting records, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. As of October 1st, the only state to have complied is Indiana. Eight states which refused to comply, Maine, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New York – have now been sued by the Trump Department of Justice.
The administration reportedly repurposed an existing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services database for verifying immigration status called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or the SAVE system. NPR reported in September that the immigration status of 33 million voters had been checked using the database.
The new lawsuit contends, QUOTE, “Congress passed the Privacy Act of 1974 specifically to prevent the government from creating ‘formal or de facto national data banks’ or ‘centralized Federal information systems’ that would consolidate sensitive personal data of Americans stored at separate agencies.” UNQUOTE.
The voters and groups are asking the court for an injunction prohibiting the administration from using personal data not allowed by the Privacy Act of 1974.
We’ve linked the complaint from AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Stateline – (Aug 18) Trump wants states to feed voter info into powerful citizenship data program
Stateline – DOJ is sharing state voter roll lists with Homeland Security
American Democracy Minute – Six More States Sued by Trump DOJ for Not Turning Over Voter’s Personal Information. It Could Be a Good Thing.
NPR – 33 million voters have been run through a Trump administration citizenship check
League of Women Voters – Class Action Lawsuit Challenges Trump-Vance Administration’s Unlawful “National Data Banks” That Consolidate Sensitive Personal Information Across Federal Agencies
U.S. District Court for DC – CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE AND DECLARATORY RELIEF
CyberScoop – Voting groups ask court for immediate halt to Trump admin’s SAVE database overhaul
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters, C.R.E.W., Electronic Privacy Information Center, Democracy Forward, Fair Elections Center
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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