DOJ sues Idaho over alleged failure to turn over voter registration records

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – A new legal battle is brewing between the federal government and the state of Idaho. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced a federal lawsuit against the Gem State, claiming Idaho didn’t hand over full voter registration lists when asked.

Idaho is allegedly among 30 states and the District of Columbia that failed to turn over voter records.

The lawsuit hinges on the Civil Rights Act of 1960. In a DOJ news release Federal prosecutors argued that this legislation grants the U.S. Attorney General broad authority to inspect and analyze election records to ensure compliance with federal law.

“The Justice Department will continue to fulfill its oversight role dutifully, neutrally, and transparently wherever Americans vote in federal elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Many state election officials, however, are choosing to fight us in court rather than show their work. We will continue to verify that all States are carrying out critical election integrity legal duties.”

While the federal government points to the Civil Rights Act, the U.S. Constitution states that it's the state's role, not the federal government's, to conduct and oversee elections. 

Voter records can include sensitive information like driver’s license numbers and partial social security numbers.

In a statement to Idaho News 6 in Boise, the Idaho Secretary of State's office expressed confidence in their efforts to ensure secure and accessible elections.

“This includes our extensive voter roll maintenance efforts leading into the 2024 Presidential Election with Governor Little’s Only Citizens Can Vote Act. We have worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security to review all registered voters in Idaho to guarantee that only citizens vote in our elections. As previously reported, out of over 1 million registered voters, this work led to the identification of 11 non-citizens who have been investigated and referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution. Idahoans have confidence in how we run our elections. The county clerks and I are committed to ensuring that confidence continues into this year’s mid-term elections. We encourage Idahoans to visit VoteIdaho.gov to learn more about our efforts on security, to update their registration, and find their voting information. With everything going on, it is a great reminder of the importance of voting.”