Colorado Politics reporter Marissa Ventrelli lays out the fight. The U.S. Department of Justice sued Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold after she refused a request for unredacted voter files that include full names, dates of birth, residential addresses, and driver’s license numbers. Griswold blasted the demand and said Colorado would not help President Donald Trump undermine elections.
The story notes the DOJ is seeking similar data from more than 20 states as part of an election security project. Some states have complied. Most have not, citing privacy concerns. Griswold joined other secretaries in asking DOJ and DHS for clarity about why the data are needed and whether they would be shared. She says the agencies have not answered. The lawsuit against Colorado is one of 14 filed against states that refused.
The Bullet Point Brief
- DOJ asked for unredacted voter rolls with DOBs, addresses, and license numbers. Griswold said no and DOJ sued.
- Two states gave full lists in an earlier round. Most sent redacted files over privacy and security concerns.
- Griswold and nine peers sought answers from DOJ and DHS about purpose and sharing. She says no response so far.
- DOJ has filed 14 suits against states that refused. Colorado joins New Mexico, Vermont, and Washington on that list.
- Griswold’s line to the press was blunt. She vowed not to hand over sensitive data and predicted victory in court.
My Bottom Line
Two things can be true at once. The Trump DOJ can be wrong to demand a trove of unredacted personal data. Griswold can be wrong to slam the door and fundraise off the refusal. Election integrity and voter privacy are not a choose one adventure. We need both.
Was DOJ weaponized under Biden. Yes. Does this look political now. It does. But weaponization depends on selective enforcement. If there is a legitimate criminal or security predicate, then build a narrow, lawful request, show the need, and protect the data with strict safeguards. If there is not, do not hoover up Coloradans’ driver’s license numbers and home addresses.
Griswold’s posture is not above critique either. The job is to defend voters’ privacy while respecting lawful process, not to wave a partisan flag. If the request is overbroad, work toward a scoped order, a protective filing, and a redacted or hashed dataset that answers the question without exposing people to doxxing or identity theft. Grandstanding helps no one.
Here is my rule of thumb. Privacy by default. Due process on request. Transparency after the fact. Publish the legal authority, the scope, the retention limits, and the audit trail. If DOJ cannot meet that bar, the answer is no. If they can, then Colorado should comply with the narrow order and keep politics out of it. Voters deserve equal justice and equal protection, not a food fight.
I know, how boring – where are the clicks in this?
Source: Colorado Politics
