The Trump administration has been actively seeking to compel states to surrender their voter registration data. While many observers speculate that this move is a desperate ploy to influence the midterm elections and stave off the specter of a lame-duck presidency, the underlying motives appear to be more insidious and far-reaching.
The Brennan Center has disclosed a confidential memorandum indicating that the administration’s intention for acquiring these voter rolls is to facilitate a nationwide voter purge by applying pressure on the states.
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Source: The Brennan Center:
This agreement outlines the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) plans to scrutinize state voter files and subsequently instruct states to eliminate specific voters—a power that has traditionally rested solely with the states. Such a move would fundamentally disrupt the established American electoral administration framework, which relies on state expertise and authority to manage voter registration.
Moreover, the agreement stipulates that the DOJ will “test, analyze, and assess states’ [voter rolls]” and provide each participating state with a list of voters deemed ineligible for removal within a mere 45 days.
Should states comply with this directive, they would be in violation of numerous federal voting laws. Thus far, only a few Republican-leaning states, like Alaska and Texas, have acquiesced to the request for voter file submissions, while others, such as Tennessee and South Dakota, have resisted. In contrast, all Democratic-leaning and swing states have firmly declined.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has resorted to litigation in an effort to obtain these voter rolls, suffering a significant setback on Tuesday in Michigan.
