Case Summary
The League of Women Voters of New Hampshire ("LWVNH") and the ACLU of New Hampshire filed an amicus brief opposing the United States Department of Justice’s ("DOJ') lawsuit demanding disclosure of New Hampshire voters’ private information. LWVNH argued the DOJ had no right to access such information under federal law.
Since the beginning of the second Trump administration, the United States Department of Justice ("DOJ") has repeatedly issued demands for states to disclose registered voters’ personal data. This data could be shared with the Department of Homeland Security for criminal and immigration investigations.
New Hampshire 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.
New Hampshire declined to provide the data, stating that the DOJ lacked authority under federal law to make such demands.
In response, on September 25, 2025, the DOJ filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. The Department sought an order requiring the Secretary of State to disclose the full, unredacted statewide voter registration list.
On February 6, 2026, the New Hampshire Secretary of State (the defendant) filed a motion to dismiss the case.
On February 13, 2026, the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire (“LWVNH”) and the ACLU of New Hampshire filed an amicus brief defending voter privacy. The brief argued that (1) the DOJ had provided no legitimate basis for its request; (2) the DOJ did not allege a sufficient purpose for bringing a claim under the Civil Rights Act of 1960; (3) the demand for data was part of a coordinated effort to obtain sensitive data of millions of Americans; and (4) the DOJ’s data demands incorrectly suggest the federal government is responsible for election administration activities.
LWVNH is represented in this matter by Campaign Legal Center, the ACLU of NH, the ACLU Voting Rights Project, and the Brennan Center for Justice.
LWV Timeline
DOJ files lawsuit
The DOJ files a federal lawsuit, demanding New Hampshire 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.The DOJ files a federal lawsuit, demanding New Hampshire 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.
New Hampshire Secretary of State moves to dismiss the case
LWVNH and its co-amici file an amicus brief supporting voter privacy. The brief argues federal law does not entitle the DOJ to the unredacted statewide voter registration list.
LWVNH files amicus brief
LWVNH and its co-amici file an amicus brief supporting voter privacy. The brief argues federal law does not entitle the DOJ to the unredacted statewide voter registration list.