Trump's DOJ sues Minnesota election official over voter registration data
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon over his refusal to turn over the state’s voter registration list.
The lawsuit contends that federal officials should have access to Minnesota’s list to ensure Minnesota is in compliance with the Help America Vote Act. The law was passed after irregularities and issues were tracked in the 2000 election.
It’s the latest salvo in a monthslong fight over the date. In June, the Justice Department sent a letter to Simon, a third-term DFLer. The department requested data about Minnesota’s compliance with maintaining its voter registration list; that letter also asked for the full statewide voter registration list, which includes names, drivers license numbers, partial Social Security numbers and dates of birth of voters.
In response, Simon’s office provided data on maintenance, but declined to send the entire list.
The lawsuit said Simon’s office told the federal department that no information contained on the list would be disclosed “unless expressly required by law,” and that the Trump administration did not identify any legitimate legal basis for sharing that list. Simon’s office also sought assurances that any data it supplies would be protected and used properly.
In an interview with MPR News Thursday, Simon said he sees his role as safeguarding voter privacy.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/09/25/doj-sues-minnesota-over-voter-registration-data