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The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon over his refusal to turn over the state’s voter registration list.

The lawsuit contends that federal officials should have access to Minnesota’s list to ensure Minnesota is in compliance with the Help America Vote Act. The law was passed after irregularities and issues were tracked in the 2000 election.

“To prevent fraudulent votes from being cast in federal elections, federal law requires that all states conduct routine list maintenance of their statewide voter registration databases to maintain accurate voter rolls,” the lawsuit says. 

The case cites a March executive order signed by President Donald Trump on election administration as one basis for seeking the data.

It’s the latest salvo in a monthslong fight over the date. In June, the Justice Department sent a letter to Simon, a third-term DFLer. The department requested data about Minnesota’s compliance with maintaining its voter registration list; that letter also asked for the full statewide voter registration list, which includes names, drivers license numbers, partial Social Security numbers and dates of birth of voters.

In response, Simon’s office provided data on maintenance, but declined to send the entire list.

The lawsuit said Simon’s office told the federal department that no information contained on the list would be disclosed “unless expressly required by law,” and that the Trump administration did not identify any legitimate legal basis for sharing that list. Simon’s office also sought assurances that any data it supplies would be protected and used properly.

In an interview with MPR News Thursday, Simon said he sees his role as safeguarding voter privacy.

“The Department of Justice is doing something here that is just not normal,” he said. “Usually when they ask states, us or anyone else, for information it's about one or a handful or particular voters. But this is so broad and so sweeping, and so potentially intrusive. That we really have to pay attention here.”

Simon said he has not heard any strong legal justification for needing the entire list.

“Who are they going to share it with for what purposes? What are the safeguards or guard rails or security protections? How will it be shielded?” Simon said. “Those are the things that we maintain the law says they need to show and they haven't shown it.”

Simon said his office will work with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office to fight the lawsuit.

The Justice Department has brought similar cases against eight states, including Pennsylvania, New York, California and Michigan.

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The U.S. Department of Justice has sued DFL Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon to get full access to the statewide voter registration list and data on voters.

Trump’s DOJ sues Minnesota election official over voter registration data

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