DOJ sues 6 blue states over voter registration roll access requirements

The Justice Division on Tuesday filed lawsuits towards six blue states: Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, accusing them of violating federal legislation by refusing to offer statewide voter registration upon request.

The complaints, filed by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Divisionallege that states have failed to fulfill their authorized obligations below the Nationwide Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Assist America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960, three federal statutes that require states to take care of correct voter rolls and make these information obtainable for inspection.

Legal professional Common Pam Bondi mentioned state refusals to make the lists public undermine the transparency and accountability these legal guidelines have been supposed to make sure.

“Correct voter rolls are the cornerstone of honest and free elections, and too many states have fallen right into a sample of non-compliance with primary voter roll upkeep,” Bondi mentioned in an announcement saying the lawsuits. “The Division of Justice will proceed to proactively pursue election integrity lawsuits till states adjust to primary election safeguards.”

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The Justice Division on Tuesday introduced a brand new lawsuit towards six blue states over entry to voter roll knowledge. (Getty Photographs)

In line with the DOJ, the company formally requested the present statewide voter registration listing and didn’t obtain the required knowledge. In every lawsuit, the division argues that Congress has given the legal professional common clear authority to require the manufacturing, inspection, and evaluation of voter registration knowledge to make sure compliance with federal legislation.

Assistant Legal professional Common for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Civil Rights Division, mentioned the division is escalating enforcement efforts forward of the 2026 election cycle.

“Our federal election legal guidelines be certain that each American citizen can vote freely and pretty,” Dhillon mentioned. “States that proceed to defy federal voting legal guidelines are interfering with our mission to make sure that Individuals have correct voter rolls once they go to the polls, that each vote counts equally, and that each one voters have faith in election outcomes. At this Division of Justice, we is not going to stand down on this open problem to federal civil rights legal guidelines.”

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Assistant Legal professional Common for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon arrives for a press convention on the Division of Justice on September 29, 2025 in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs)

The DOJ says the lawsuits are a part of a broader effort to implement voter registration transparency necessities that Congress put in place to make sure public confidence in election administration. The NVRA requires states to take care of correct voter rolls and produce them upon request; HAVA mandate states modernize and shield voter registration methods; and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 authorizes the federal government to examine and duplicate sure election information, together with voter rolls.

Fox Information Digital has reached out to election officers in all six states for remark.

The Justice Division has filed lawsuits towards six blue states: Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, accusing them of violating federal legislation by refusing to offer statewide voter registration upon request. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP through Getty Photographs)

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Federal officers have put rising strain on states over voter roll compliance lately, arguing that transparency round registration rolls is crucial to sustaining correct information, stopping clerical errors and guaranteeing voters have faith in election outcomes. The DOJ says the six states named in these new lawsuits have repeatedly didn’t adjust to the division’s requests.

The instances will now be heard in federal court docket, the place judges can order states to show over voter rolls, impose deadlines for compliance or difficulty orders requiring compliance with federal legislation.

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Election legislation disputes over the entry and upkeep of voter rolls have escalated nationwide as states put together for the 2026 midterms and the DOJ’s newest actions display an aggressive authorized stance towards states that fail to adjust to federal disclosure guidelines.

The division says it’s going to “proceed to proactively pursue election integrity lawsuits till states comply,” and has left open the opportunity of additional lawsuits.