Court protects CT voter lists from Trump

“Big win for Connecticut voters,” said Attorney General William Tong this week. “A federal judge dismissed the Trump Administration's lawsuit seeking to force Connecticut to hand over its statewide voter registration list.”

In January, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Connecticut for its refusal to hand over voter registration lists. It filed similar suits against 22 other states. Connecticut maintained it complies with all federal election laws while protecting sensitive voter information and that the Civil Rights Act of 1960 does not authorize DOJ’s demand.

“This lawsuit was an illegal attempt to disenfranchise Connecticut voters and today, the court shut it down. The Constitution is clear: the President does not control our elections and has no right to manipulate Connecticut voter rolls,” said Tong.

“Connecticut follows federal law and takes its obligations under federal law very seriously. We will not be bullied into handing over sensitive voter information just because Trump demands it.”

Motions to dismiss the lawsuit were also filed by the ACLU Foundation of Connecticut and Common Cause, SEIU District 1199NE, the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans, Connecticut Citizen Action Group and Stephanie Thomas the Secretary of State.

In the decision, U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley dismissed the action, concluding DOJ has no authority under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to require Connecticut to produce its statewide voter registration list. The court held that the list falls outside the statute because it is created by the Secretary of State.

“This administration has used the courts to push their agenda. They tried to gain access to our state’s voter data, putting our residents’ privacy at risk,” said Dan Barrett, Legal Director for the ACLU Foundation of Connecticut.

“As Connecticut’s primaries are only weeks away, with the midterm elections soon after, this ruling comes when election integrity matters most. This decision reaffirms what has already been true for years: Connecticut’s elections are safe and secure. In this state, every voter has the right to cast their ballot and know that their privacy will be respected in the process.” he said.