The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has filed federal lawsuits against the states of Arizona and Connecticut. The lawsuits allege that both states failed to produce their complete voter registration lists upon request by the department. These filings bring the total number of states and the District of Columbia facing similar legal action from the Justice Department to 23.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a statement indicating the department's intent to continue filing lawsuits to protect American elections, citing accurate voter rolls as essential for election integrity. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division further commented that accurate voter rolls are crucial for ensuring that votes are counted once and by eligible voters, affirming the Justice Department’s commitment to fair and free elections.
The lawsuits state that the Attorney General is responsible for enforcing the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). These federal laws aim to ensure states maintain effective voter registration and list maintenance programs. The Attorney General also possesses powers under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA) to request, inspect, and analyze statewide voter registration lists.