DOJ Sues Four States Over Voter Roll Access, Expanding Election Integrity Push

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it has filed federal lawsuits against four states—Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Nevada—accusing them of violating federal election law by failing to provide access to statewide voter registration lists.

According to a statement from the DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs, the lawsuits stem from the states’ alleged refusal to produce voter roll records after formal requests were made. Federal law requires states to maintain accurate voter registration lists and, under certain provisions, to make those records available for inspection to ensure compliance.

With the addition of these four cases, the Justice Department has now brought a total of 18 lawsuits nationwide related to voter roll access and maintenance.

In a separate but related action, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is also suing officials in Fulton County, Georgia. That lawsuit seeks records connected to the administration of the 2020 election, a focal point of ongoing scrutiny due to the county’s role in a closely contested presidential race.

All of the cases are being handled by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, which has authority to enforce federal voting rights and election administration laws.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon addressed the new lawsuits publicly, emphasizing the department’s position that states have a legal obligation to safeguard election integrity.

“States have the statutory duty to preserve and protect their constituents from vote dilution,” Dhillon said. “We will not permit states to jeopardize the integrity and effectiveness of elections.”

She added that when states fail to meet those responsibilities, the federal government will step in. “If states will not fulfill their duty to protect the integrity of the ballot, we will,” Dhillon said, warning that jurisdictions that do not comply with federal law will be held accountable.

The DOJ says the lawsuits are intended to ensure transparent and accurate voter registration systems nationwide, framing the actions as part of a broader effort to protect public confidence in U.S. elections.

The targeted states have not yet publicly responded in detail to the filings, and the cases are expected to move through federal courts in the coming months.