Texas Provides DOJ with List of 18 Million Registered Voters
Texas has submitted its voter roll, containing approximately 18.4 million registered voters, to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This action was confirmed by Alicia Pierce, spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. The submission occurred on December 23, as part of the DOJ’s broader initiative to access voter data nationwide.
Context of the Voter Roll Demand
The DOJ’s request for voter rolls from all 50 states is aimed at enforcing federal election laws. Officials argue that maintaining updated voter lists is essential for upholding election integrity. However, this stance has raised significant concerns regarding the potential infringement on voter privacy rights.
Details of the Submitted Data
- The voter roll includes sensitive information such as:
- Dates of birth
- Driver’s license numbers
- Last four digits of Social Security numbers
Legal and Political Reactions
Experts and political figures have criticized the DOJ’s data request as potentially illegal. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) officially responded, highlighting the risks of privacy violations and the possibility of disenfranchising eligible voters. DNC Chair Ken Martin described the action as a “big government power grab.”
The DNC has asked for more information regarding the terms under which Texas shared its voter data. They warn of possible legal repercussions associated with the DOJ’s data use strategy.
Concerns Over Data Usage
Some analysts fear that the DOJ could use the data to create a comprehensive national voter database. This raises alarms among election officials and watchdog groups about the implications for voter privacy.
Implications for Texas Elections
Texas agreed to submit the voter data under the condition that it would not infringe upon its responsibilities under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) or other federal statutes. Notably, Texas cannot conduct any removals from the voter rolls within 90 days of its upcoming elections, which include:
- Primary on March 3
- Runoff on May 26
- General election on November 3
The DOJ’s next steps remain uncertain, as they had executed legal actions against 23 states for refusing to comply voluntarily with similar requests. Texas, however, proceeded with data submission, yet emphasized the protection of state rights and voter privacy.
