Case Summary
LWVKY and co-intervenors moved to intervene in the United States Department of Justice’s lawsuit demanding disclosure of Kentucky voters’ private information. LWVKY argued the DOJ had no right to access such information under federal law and opposed the Department’s demands.
Since the beginning of the second Trump Administration, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) repeatedly demanded that states disclose registered voters’ personal data. This data could be shared with the Department of Homeland Security for criminal and immigration investigations.
Kentucky was among the states that received these requests. The DOJ requested the full, unredacted statewide voter registration list, including voters’ full name, date of birth, residential address, and either their state driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security Number. The DOJ claimed the data was necessary to ensure compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and later asserted the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) entitled it to the unredacted list.
Kentucky declined to provide the data, stating that the DOJ lacked authority under federal law to make such demands.
In response, on February 26, 2026, the DOJ filed a federal lawsuit against Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. The Department sought an order requiring the Secretary of State to disclose the full, unredacted statewide voter registration list.
On March 6, 2026, the League of Women Voters of Kentucky (LWVKY), the New Americans Initiative, and two individual voters moved to intervene as defendants on behalf of Kentucky voters. The brief explained that, based on public reporting, DOJ’s request for private data appeared to be linked to efforts to create a national voter database, which would be used to purge state voter rolls. The intervenors argued the personal information of voters was protected from disclosure by federal law, including the Privacy Act and First Amendment, as well as Kentucky state law.
LWVKY is represented in this matter by the ACLU of KY and the ACLU Voting Rights Project.
LWV Timeline
DOJ files lawsuit
The DOJ files a federal lawsuit, demanding Kentucky hand over the full, unredacted statewide voter registration .list, claiming it is entitled to the information under the NVRA, HAVA, and Civil Rights Act of 1960
LWVKY moves to intervene
LWVKY and partners file a motion to intervene to protect voter privacy. The brief argues federal law does not entitle the DOJ to the unredacted statewide voter registration list.