The Department of Justice has launched lawsuits against Oregon and Maine, as well as their respective Secretaries of State, for allegedly refusing to provide critical information about voter registration and voter list maintenance.
The action highlights the federal government’s insistence on transparency and compliance with election laws.
Federal Officials Stress Importance of Voting Law Compliance
“States simply cannot pick and choose which federal laws they will comply with, including our voting laws, which ensure that all American citizens have equal access to the ballot in federal elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
Dhillon emphasized that citizens must have confidence in the integrity of elections.
She warned that states failing to protect voters against potential vote dilution could face serious legal consequences.
Allegations Against Oregon
The lawsuit filed against Oregon claims that the state and its Secretary of State, Tobias Read, violated multiple federal laws: the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA).
According to the DOJ, Oregon refused to:
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Provide the current unredacted electronic copy of the state’s voter registration list
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Share detailed information on the state’s voter list maintenance program
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Disclose registration information for ineligible voters
Allegations Against Maine
Similarly, the lawsuit against Maine accuses the state and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows of violating the NVRA, HAVA, and CRA.
Maine is alleged to have refused to provide data on the removal of ineligible individuals and to produce an unredacted, computerized voter registration list.
Interestingly, both states reportedly shared the same voter information with a private organization, raising questions about why similar data was not provided to the federal government.
DOJ Highlights Broader Implications
The DOJ action underscores a broader federal commitment to ensuring transparent, secure, and equitable elections across all states.
The lawsuits serve as a reminder that compliance with voting laws is not optional and that states must provide access to voter registration information to uphold citizens’ rights.