Attorney General Kwame Raoul has joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general in submitting an amicus brief to support California’s motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit that seeks access to unredacted voter registration information. The brief was filed in the case U.S. v. Shirley Weber, et al., in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
The attorneys general argue that the federal government’s request is part of a broader effort to build a master database containing sensitive data on millions of Americans. According to the brief, the federal government does not have legal authority to require states to provide such information and these demands violate both constitutional protections over state control of elections and federal privacy laws.
Attorney General Raoul stated, “The attempt by the federal government to obtain the voter information of millions of Americans is illegal and represents the latest move by the Trump administration to sow doubt in our elections process. The right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans, and I will continue to join with other attorneys general to protect voters’ constitutional right to vote.”
The federal government has requested voter data from 42 states and has initiated lawsuits against seven states beyond California. The information sought includes personally identifying details such as partial Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, party affiliation, disability status, and voting history. The coalition notes that releasing this unredacted data could put at risk individuals enrolled in confidentiality programs intended for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault survivors, law enforcement officers, and judicial officials.
Raoul and his colleagues place these demands within a larger pattern of unprecedented attempts by federal authorities to collect personal data from Americans. Similar requests have been made for state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid records. Courts have previously issued preliminary injunctions blocking some efforts after actions taken by Raoul and other coalition members.
In their argument, Raoul and the coalition contend that three statutes cited by the Department of Justice—the Help America Vote Act, National Voter Registration Act, and Civil Rights Act of 1960—do not authorize such broad collection of sensitive voter data. They emphasize that while the Civil Rights Act allows record inspection for investigating racial discrimination in voting, it was not intended for large-scale collection that could discourage participation.
The brief also claims that the federal government has not complied with requirements under the Privacy Act of 1974. This law mandates specific procedures before collecting personal information and restricts what can be collected or shared. It also prohibits agencies from keeping records about how individuals exercise First Amendment rights unless explicitly permitted by statute.
Earlier this year, Attorney General Raoul worked with other attorneys general to prevent unauthorized access by Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” to Americans’ sensitive personal information such as bank account details and Social Security numbers.
Other states joining Illinois in filing this brief include Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
