By Trendsetter Tribune 
Texas has provided its statewide voter roll to the U.S. Justice Department, a move that has drawn criticism from Democrats and raised questions about voter privacy and federal election law.
Texas has turned over its statewide voter roll to the U.S. Justice Department, complying with a request from the Trump administration that has sparked legal and political pushback across the country.
A spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that the state provided the voter data to federal officials on Dec. 23. The records include information on roughly 18.4 million registered voters and contain sensitive personal details such as dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers.
The Justice Department began requesting voter rolls from all 50 states last year, arguing that access to the data is necessary to enforce federal election laws requiring states to regularly maintain their voter lists by removing ineligible registrations.
However, the effort has raised concerns among election officials, privacy advocates, and Democratic leaders, who argue that the federal government’s demand may exceed its legal authority and could put voter privacy at risk.
According to the Justice Department, states that refuse to provide voter data are interfering with its ability to carry out federal oversight. The department has now sued 23 states and Washington, D.C., for declining to voluntarily turn over their voter rolls. In a recent interview, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said 13 states, including Texas, agreed to comply.
The Democratic National Committee has warned that Texas’ decision could violate federal election law. In a letter obtained by Votebeat and The Texas Tribune, DNC Chair Ken Martin described the move as a “big government power grab,” arguing that it could invite privacy violations and increase the risk of eligible voters being improperly removed from the rolls.
The DNC’s litigation director, Daniel Freeman, requested records related to the data transfer and said the party may pursue further action depending on what agreements were signed between Texas and the Justice Department.
At the center of the dispute is a proposed memorandum of understanding that outlines how the Justice Department would review state voter rolls. Under similar agreements shared with other states, federal officials would flag potential issues in voter lists and give states 45 days to address them before resubmitting updated data.
Election law experts have warned that such provisions could conflict with the National Voter Registration Act, which sets strict rules on when and how voters can be removed from registration lists. Federal law also prohibits large-scale voter removals within 90 days of a federal election.
Texas faces multiple upcoming election deadlines this year, including a March primary, a May runoff, and a November general election, which could further complicate any federal pressure to conduct list maintenance during those periods.
The Texas Secretary of State’s Office has said it shared the voter data with the understanding that doing so would not limit the state’s responsibilities or obligations under federal election law. The state has not yet released a signed copy of the agreement governing how the Justice Department may use the data.