Phoenix, AZ – Today, the Department of Justice filed lawsuits in two additional states, including Arizona, seeking access to complete voter registration lists. The information requested by the DOJ extends beyond publicly available voter registration information and could compromise sensitive driver’s license and Social Security information. In response, All Voting is Local Arizona State Director Alex Gulotta issued the following statement:
“The Trump administration’s baseless lawsuit is a boldfaced attempt at gaining unfettered access to sensitive voter data to undermine free and fair elections in this country. This blatant weaponization of the DOJ to capture full access to unredacted voter data is un-American, and Arizonans will not stand for it.
“If successful, the Department of Justice will not only violate privacy laws but also enable large-scale voter challenges, make false claims of fraud, and further chip away at voters’ trust in their electoral system. Countless doors for election deniers to threaten the foundations of our elections will be opened, as these tactics have long been used to suppress participation, particularly among communities of color, students, and working-class voters. To maintain a thriving democracy, we cannot allow the federal government to meddle in state elections with frivolous lawsuits like the one filed in Arizona today.
“We applaud Secretary of State Fontes for zealously defending against the DOJ’s improper demands and protecting the privacy of Arizona voters.”
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All Voting is Local (“All Voting”) is a 501(c)(3), nonpartisan organization that fights on the ground in eight states for free and fair elections. All Voting advocates state and local officials for policies and practices that ensure the American people choose their leaders, not the other way around. All Voting works year-round with our partners to prevent partisan interference in our elections, advance fair and inclusive rules on voter registration, and remove barriers that make it more difficult for people to vote – particularly for Black, Brown, Native American, and other historically marginalized communities. Learn more at www.AllVotingisLocal.org.