DOJ Sues Utah for Unredacted Voter Database

The Trump Justice Department is taking Utah to court to pry loose the state’s full, unredacted voter registration list, including birthdates, addresses, and other information. It's part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to hoover up voter data from states in the name of "election integrity."

The Department of Justice filed suit Thursday, asking a federal judge to order Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson to turn over Utah’s full, unredacted statewide voter registration list and related federal election records. Utah was one of five states sued by the DOJ on Thursday seeking the same data.

“Accurate, well-maintained voter rolls are a requisite for the election integrity that the American people deserve,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a press release. “This latest series of litigation underscores that the Department of Justice is fulfilling its duty to ensure transparency, voter roll maintenance, and secure elections across the country.”

In July 2025, the DOJ opened an investigation into Utah’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and asked Henderson for the current statewide voter list.

Henderson offered only the public version. Under Utah law, voters can mark their information “private,” which is released only in limited circumstances. A separate “withheld” designation—often used to protect domestic violence survivors and people at risk—cannot be made public at all.

By mid-August, DOJ sent a formal “written demand” under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 for an unredacted list—full names, birthdates, addresses, and either a driver’s license number, the last four digits of a Social Security number, or a HAVA unique ID.

Henderson raised privacy concerns about releasing the information and asked for more details. DOJ responded with a proposed memorandum of understanding they say would safeguard the data, but Henderson said she needed more time.

In the lawsuit, DOJ claims the Civil Rights Act of 1960 requires election officials to preserve voter registration and federal election records for 22 months and, upon a written demand from the Attorney General, make them available. In DOJ’s telling, states cannot refuse that request.

DOJ is asking the court to declare Henderson violated federal law and order the state to produce the full, unredacted list. Notably, the suit doesn’t accuse Utah of specific NVRA or HAVA violations—it accuses the state of obstructing the investigation by withholding the file.

After the lawsuit was filed, Henderson posted a statement on social media saying the DOJ has sued more than half the states to gain access to private voter data.

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“Neither state nor federal law entitles the Department of Justice to collect private information on law-abiding American citizens. Utahns can be assured that my office will always follow the Constitution and the law, protect voters’ rights, and administer free and fair elections,” she wrote.

So far, DOJ has sued 29 states plus Washington, D.C. to get voter files. Courts in California and Oregon have already rejected these demands.

The Brennan Center for Justice argues the campaign is part of the Trump administration’s effort to usurp state control of election administration—and potentially pressure states to purge voters from the rolls.