US EditionState Elections Commission Denies Trump’s Demand for Personal Voter Info
The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 5-1 to deny DOJ access to unredacted voter data, citing state confidentiality laws that override federal statutes, potentially prompting a lawsuit.
- On Dec. 11, the Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 5-1 to deny the U.S. Department of Justice's request for the statewide voter registration list, citing state law.
- On Dec. 2, DOJ officials demanded within 7 days the full statewide voter list, citing HAVA, in a Dec. 2 letter to Wisconsin Elections Commission. The commission refused, citing state law.
- Several commissioners, including Mark Thomsen, pushed back after Republican commissioner Bob Spindell argued `If it can be transferred to another state, it certainly can be transferred to the federal government,` and did not sign the response letter.
- The refusal raises the prospect of litigation as the commission's 5-1 denial could prompt a federal lawsuit, with only Indiana and Wyoming supplying full data and WEC offering fee-based public lists via Badger Voters.
- WEC officials said social security numbers are encrypted and the agency conducts at least 11 voter-list maintenance processes that produce referrals for prosecution; commissioners called the dispute highly controversial and said it may reach the Supreme Court.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Elections Commission rejects U.S. DOJ’s request for personal voter information
In a letter responding to the U.S. DOJ’s request, commissioners wrote that Wisconsin law “explicitly prohibits the Commission” from providing the full unredacted voter registration list, which includes information like driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of residents’ Social Security numbers.
Wisconsin State Journal
Lake Geneva NewsState elections commission denies Trump’s demand for personal voter info
The U.S. DOJ’s request mirrors similar efforts in more than a dozen other states as the Trump administration seeks voter records ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Wisconsin Elections Commission declines to send personal voter data to Department of Justice
MADISON — The Wisconsin Elections Commission denied a request from the U.S. Department of Justice to disclose a list of registered Wisconsin voters and their personal information. An email sent on Dec. 2 demanded that the commission send a copy of the full Wisconsin statewide voter registration list, including the last four digits of each voter’s social security number and/or their driver’s license number. Five of WEC’s six commissioners, includ…
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