OLYMPIA— On Monday, September 8, the Washington State Secretary of State’s Office received a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting a full copy of the Washington state voter registration data within 14 days. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, and his office, assessed the request and ultimately decided they would not release the information until the DOJ specified what they plan to do with the data.
This request, which was signed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, specified that the copy must include sensitive information including: the registrant’s full name, date of birth, residential address, and state driver’s license number or the last four digits of the registrant’s Social Security number.
Under Washington state law, full date of birth, driver’s license number, and the last four digits of an individual’s Social Security number are protected information. These are not included in the publicly available voter registration database.
Similar requests went out to at least 22 other states across the U.S. including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wisconsin.
It’s unclear whether other states not listed also received requests or, if not, why some states were addressed, and others were not.
SOS Hobbs said he will respond to the DOJ officially once he’s had the opportunity to fully assess the information while working with stakeholders, and ensuring his response meets both state and federal requirements.
“As Washington’s chief election official, it is my responsibility to ensure the election process is safe, secure, and transparent,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “This includes protecting Washingtonians’ voter information and privacy. I will work with all stakeholders to ensure we maintain both.
Hobbs added that his office prioritizes the integrity of Washington’s elections while ensuring the security and privacy of voter information.
Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsch stood in support of the request Wednesday, September 10, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to say the letter has Hobbs, and Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson “lawyering up faster than a Hilltop gangbanger with a stolen Glock.”
“You’ve got less than 14 days, guys. I believe Justice will prevail,” wrote Walsh.
On March 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.” Several provisions of this order aim to enhance existing laws prohibiting foreign nationals from participating in elections.
Also, withing that executive order it called for a comprehensive review of state voter registration rolls, to verify eligibility and U.S. citizenship.
The executive order also seeks to stop the counting of mail-in and absentee ballots as well as strengthen the enforcement of election laws and prosecution for election-related crimes.
Trump’s executive order effectively revoked a similar executive order signed by President Joe Biden in 2021 which promoted access to voting.
You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible to vote in Washington state voters are required to be a U.S. citizen by law.
Washington’s voter registration process requires proof of identity such as a valid Washington driver’s license number, permit, state identification card number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. This information is verified against records from the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).
If a voter’s registration information does not match the records on file with DOL or SSA, they may be provisionally registered. However, their ballot will not be counted until they provide valid identification, according to the Secretary of State.
Trump’s executive order was met with legal challenges from 19 different states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Additionally, the states of Washington and Oregon filed separate lawsuits which was heard in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in June. Currently litigation is still ongoing.
“American democracy has given agency to the oppressed, hope to the weary, and belief that our society can work for everyone,” said Washington Attorney General Nick Brown. “These truths appeal to most people, but not to a bully and an authoritarian. Donald Trump fears what he can’t control. He only feels safe when he has our rights under his thumb.”
These lawsuits argued that Trump’s executive order is an unconstitutional overreach of presidential power and that the authority to regulate state-run elections rests with Congress and the states themselves.
Multiple federal courts have already issued preliminary injunctions blocking key parts of the executive order, siding with these challenging states that claim the order violates the U.S. Constitution and federal laws, including the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
