OLYMPIA — Following a hearing today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington regarding the U.S. Department of Justice’s demand for Washington state’s full, unredacted voter roll, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued the following statement:
“Today’s hearing marks the latest chapter in the DOJ’s efforts to force states to turn over their voter rolls. To date, DOJ is 0-18 in these cases. That record speaks for itself. Rather than addressing any real problem, these lawsuits seek private voter information that is protected under state law.
The Constitution is clear that the authority to administer elections rests with the states. The DOJ’s demands for complete voter rolls are another example of federal overreach and an attempt to exert control over our elections.
When the DOJ requested Washington’s complete voter roll, including information that is protected under state law, my office upheld its duty to protect voters’ information in compliance with state and federal law.
Washington has a proven track record of maintaining a secure and accurate voter roll. Our list maintenance practices comply with state law, the Help America Vote Act, and the National Voter Registration Act. We offered all voter data that is publicly available, consistent with state and federal privacy laws and the approach taken by many other states.
My office will continue defending Washington voters’ private information while ensuring the integrity our voter roll remains secure, accurate, and trustworthy.”
Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program. The Secretary of State oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime and the Civic Engagement Program to increase governmental trust and participation for all Washingtonians.