Washington denies DOJ request for voter rolls

by Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard
September 23, 2025

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs on Tuesday rejected a Trump administration demand for sensitive voter information, saying releasing it would violate state and federal law.

Hobbs said he would provide publicly available data such as names, addresses, genders, years of birth, registration dates, and voting records—but not birth dates, driver license numbers, or Social Security digits, which he called protected information.

The Justice Department requested the data as part of its search for evidence of voter fraud, citing compliance with federal voting laws. Hobbs questioned the motive, warning it could be used to aid immigration crackdowns.

His refusal follows DOJ lawsuits against Oregon and Maine for rejecting similar demands. Hobbs stressed his duty is not only to maintain voter rolls but also to protect residents’ privacy.

The clash adds to ongoing legal battles between the Trump administration and Northwest states over voting rights, including a federal case challenging Trump’s order to tighten vote-by-mail rules.

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