Justice Department Sues Michigan, 5 Other States For Failing To Provide Voter Registration Rolls

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 09/25/2025) The federal government Thursday filed a lawsuit against six states – including Michigan — for failing to produce their statewide voter registration lists upon request.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said her office gave the U.S. Department of Justice “exactly what they are legally entitled to – the public version of Michigan’s voter file,” and she will not release additional information.

“It’s important for every Michigander to understand what’s at stake here. The U.S. Justice Department is trying to get us to turn over the private, personal information of more than eight million state residents,” she said in a statement. “That includes people’s driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personally identifiable information.

“I told them they can’t have it,” Benson added.

In addition to Michigan, the DOJ sued California, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.

According to the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court's Western District of Michigan, Benson’s refusal to provide the requested information “prevents the Attorney General from enforcing” the Help America Vote Act’s (HAVA) list maintenance requirements.

The government wants an order forcing Michigan and the other states to turn over the current electronic copy of the respective states’ computerized statewide voter registration list,” with all fields, including each registrant’s full name, date of birth, residential address, and either their state driver’s license number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number.”

The government argues that Congress charges the office with the enforcement of both the HAVA and the National Voter Registration Act.

The Attorney General said she could also use the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to demand the production, inspection and analysis of the statewide voter registration lists.

“Clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Every state has a responsibility to ensure that voter registration records are accurate, accessible, and secure — states that don’t fulfill that obligation will see this Department of Justice in court.”