The U.S. Department of Justice has filed federal lawsuits against Arizona and Connecticut, accusing both states of refusing to provide complete voter registration records required under federal law.
According to the DOJ, the lawsuits bring the total number of states sued over voter roll production to 23, along with the District of Columbia, marking a significant escalation in the federal government’s enforcement of election record transparency requirements.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the department is seeking to enforce longstanding federal statutes designed to ensure accurate voter registration systems.
“Accurate voter rolls are the foundation of election integrity,” Bondi said in a statement. “Any state that fails to meet this basic obligation of transparency can expect to see us in court.”
The lawsuits allege that Arizona and Connecticut failed to comply with written demands from the Attorney General to produce their full statewide voter registration lists, including required identifying fields. DOJ argues that Congress explicitly authorized such demands under multiple federal laws, including the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said the department is enforcing statutory obligations, not expanding its authority.
“Accurate voter rolls are essential to ensuring that American citizens’ votes count only once, and only with other eligible voters,” Dhillon said. “The Justice Department is committed to safeguarding fair and free elections.”
Court filings show that the DOJ sent formal written demands to both states in 2025, requesting electronic copies of their statewide voter registration databases. State officials in Arizona and Connecticut declined to comply, citing privacy concerns under state law.
DOJ disputes that justification, arguing that federal law preempts state restrictions when voter registration records are sought for election oversight and enforcement purposes. The department is asking federal courts to order both states to produce the requested records.
The lawsuits do not allege voter fraud or irregular voting, but instead focus on compliance with federal record-keeping and transparency requirements. The cases will now proceed in federal court, where judges will determine whether the states are legally required to turn over the voter registration data.
