The U.S. Department of Justice initiated legal action on Tuesday against six states—Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington—for their failure to submit statewide voter registration rolls as required by federal law. These states, all under Democratic leadership, are accused of noncompliance with the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, representing the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, stated that the refusal to provide voter lists undermines the transparency and accountability that federal election laws seek to guarantee. "Accurate voter rolls are the cornerstone of fair and free elections, and too many states have fallen into a pattern of noncompliance with basic voter roll maintenance,” Bondi articulated. She emphasized the department's commitment to pursuing "proactive election integrity litigation until states comply with basic election safeguards."
The Justice Department's request for current, statewide voter registration data from the targeted states has reportedly been unmet, prompting these lawsuits. Congress has vested the attorney general with the authority to demand production, inspection, and analysis of voter registration data to ensure adherence to federal statutes.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon commented on the enforcement efforts, particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 election cycle. Dhillon highlighted the importance of accurate voter lists in ensuring the integrity of the vote and maintaining public confidence in election results. "At this Department of Justice, we will not stand for this open defiance of federal civil rights laws," Dhillon stated.
The legal actions are part of a broader initiative by the Justice Department to enforce transparency in voter registration, a measure seen as critical for accurate record-keeping, preventing errors, and fostering voter confidence in electoral processes. The National Voter Registration Act obliges states to maintain precise voter lists and make them available upon request, while the Help America Vote Act mandates the modernization and protection of voter registration systems. Additionally, the Civil Rights Act of 1960 grants the government the right to inspect and replicate certain election records, including voter rolls.
This escalation of legal disputes over voter roll access and maintenance comes as the country prepares for the 2026 midterm elections. The Justice Department has indicated that its enforcement actions will persist and potentially expand if states continue to resist compliance with federal election laws.
The federal lawsuits will now proceed in court, where judges may compel the states to provide the voter lists, set deadlines for compliance, or issue injunctions to enforce adherence to federal regulations.
