January 1, Nebraska Forced to Hand Voter Data to DOJ

Wyatt’s Take

• Nebraska must give voter data to the Justice Department after a court order.
• State officials say they’ll protect voters’ privacy but many are worried.
• Moves like this raise bigger questions about federal power over local elections.

Nebraska’s Supreme Court ruled that the state has to send its voter data to the Department of Justice. Secretary of State Bob Evnen said he had no choice after the court refused to stop the release.

The DOJ is checking if Nebraska follows federal voting laws. The Attorney General in Nebraska said the federal request “was lawful and proper.” Evnen plans to send the information electronically and has asked the DOJ to respect privacy laws.

Evnen stated he takes voter privacy seriously. But when asked about possible misuse, he answered, “The only thing I’m positive of is that the sun won’t catch in a tree when it sets tonight.” He assured that voters would not be removed from the rolls without a full state investigation first.

Last week, a judge dismissed a lawsuit from watchdog group Common Cause that tried to keep the data from being sent. Common Cause warned that sharing this private information could not be undone once released.

The DOJ has spent the last year pushing states to hand over their voter records, even suing more than twenty states to get the data.

Everyday Nebraskans have a right to ask where their personal information goes and who keeps it safe.

Wyatt Matters

Folks in the heartland value trust and privacy. Handing over voter information under orders from Washington can feel like losing local control. It’s a reminder that regular Americans have to keep a sharp eye on what government does with their data.

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