Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Republican Election Officials Refusing Trump’s Voting Records Demand


Republican Election Officials in Multiple States are Pushing Back against Trump’s (R) Demand for Detailed Voter Data. At least Six Republican-led State Election Offices have Declined to Hand Over Non-Public Voter Information, including Social Security Numbers, Driver’s License IDs, and Addresses.

It comes as the Trump Administration has Launched an Effort to Obtain Personal Information on Voters across the Country, ahead of the 2026 Midterms. The Information includes: Voters’ Names, Birthdates, Addresses, and Driver’s License Numbers, or the Last Four Digits of their Social Security Numbers. In recent Wweeks, State Election Offices have received Letters from Harmeet Dhillon (R), who Oversees the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Seeking Unredacted Copies of Voter Registration Databases.

DOJ has Insisted that the Requested Voter Information is Critical to Ensuring Ccompliance with Federal Law, which Requires States to Maintain Accurate Voter Registration Lists. Many State Election Officials argue the DOJ is Overstepping, saying Elections and Voter-Roll Maintenance are Handled at the State Level, and that giving Detailed Personal Data could let the Federal Government Identify and Remove Voters.

Several Election Offices have Refused to Provide the Sensitive Data, citing Concerns over Protecting Voters’ Personal Iinformation. Since 9/2025, the DOJ has Filed Lawsuits against 24 Primarily Democratic-led States, that Declined to Share the Records. Yet Resistance is Not Limited to Democratic Jurisdictions, Republican-led States are Increasingly Pushing Back against the Administration’s Demands.

Missouri: Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) told State Lawmakers that He would Not Provide the Data, without a Court Order, citing State Privacy Laws.

Oklahoma: State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax (R) said in a Letter to the DOJ this Month: "If we could legally comply, we would promptly do so,”.

West Virginia: Secretary of State Kris Warner (R) said: “They can have the voter rolls. They’re gonna pay for it like everybody else,” referring to the Public List Available for $500. “They’re not going to get Our Personal Information.

A Republican Election Official, speaking anonymously to avoid White House Backlash, told CNN the Data could be used for Immigration Enforcement or to Cast Doubt on Midterm Election Results. “If states don’t give this information and then Republicans lose and they can go back and say, ‘See, it’s because they didn’t give us this information, so they cheated and all these illegal people that shouldn’t have been voting voted,’” the Official said.

Other Republican Officials have provided some Voter Information, but Resisted Signing the Agreement. Concerns have also arisen over a Proposed 45-day Deadline for States to Correct Issues Identified by the DOJ.

Mississippi: Secretary of State Michael Watson (R), who Ultimately provided the Data, but Refused to Sign the DOJ’s Agreement, said the Timeframe Conflicted with State Law, and the Decentralized Nature of Voter Roll Maintenance. “You can’t expect to send me a 45-day window to get this done or else,” Watson said. “We were adamant on the idea that maintaining voter rolls should be done on the state level.”

Dhillon has Dismissed Concerns about the Request. “Some of the goofy responses that I have gotten from secretaries of state have included, ‘Oh, my goodness, this is highly confidential Social Security information. We can’t possibly give that to the federal government,’” Dhillon recently said on Just the News. “That’s just silly because the federal government of course issues the Social Security numbers, and people routinely give it out on a daily basis when they go to the doctor or the DMV… that’s very silly.”

Alaska and Texas have Signed the Memorandum, and will send the Information.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker


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