Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

DOJ Sues Virginia Over Refusal to Provide Voter Rolls to Trump Administration

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Virginia for allegedly refusing to turn over its full voter registration lists to the Trump administration, escalating a nationwide legal campaign over election data access.

DOJ Sues Minnesota Over Affirmative Action Policies, Harmeet Dhillon Calls Program “Unlawful Discrimination”

The lawsuit was announced by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and makes Virginia the 24th state — along with the District of Columbia — to face legal action for failing to provide statewide voter roll data upon request.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the legal action is part of a broader effort to enforce federal election transparency laws.

“This Department of Justice has now sued 24 states for failing to provide voter roll data and will continue filing lawsuits to protect American elections,” Bondi said. “Accurate voter rolls are the foundation of election integrity, and any state that fails to meet this basic obligation of transparency can expect to see us in court.”

DOJ Sues Minneapolis Public Schools Over Alleged Race-Based Teacher Hiring Practices

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, emphasized that maintaining and disclosing voter registration data is critical to public trust in elections.

“Accurate voter rolls are essential to ensuring that American citizens’ votes count only once, and only with other eligible voters,” Dhillon said. “The Justice Department is committed to safeguarding fair and free elections, and will hold states accountable when they refuse to respect our federal elections laws.”

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan echoed those concerns, warning that withholding required election data undermines confidence in the democratic system.

“When states attempt to hide information they are required to disclose, they undermine public trust and violate the law,” Halligan said. “This office will enforce the law to ensure the public and federal authorities receive the information they are entitled to.”

South Carolina Supreme Court Hands Trump Administration Major Victory on Voter Roll Oversight

Legal basis of the lawsuit

According to the DOJ, the Attorney General is authorized by Congress to enforce multiple federal election laws, including the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). These statutes require states to maintain accurate voter registration systems and make certain election records available for federal inspection.

The lawsuit also cites the Civil Rights Act of 1960, which grants the Justice Department authority to demand the production and review of statewide voter registration lists.

The Trump administration has argued that access to full voter roll data is necessary to verify list maintenance procedures, identify outdated or ineligible registrations, and ensure compliance with federal law.

Federal Civil Rights Division Sues DC, Georgia, Illinois, and Wisconsin Over Failure to Produce Voter Rolls

A growing national legal battle

Virginia’s case is part of a sweeping federal effort targeting election administration practices across the country. DOJ officials say additional lawsuits remain possible as the department continues requesting voter roll information from state governments.

The case is expected to be heard in federal court in Virginia. As of now, state officials have not publicly responded in detail to the latest filing.

Updated January 16, 2026

FAQs: DOJ Lawsuit Against Virginia Over Voter Rolls

1. Why did the Department of Justice sue Virginia?

The DOJ sued Virginia for allegedly refusing to provide its full statewide voter registration lists to the federal government. The Justice Department says federal law requires states to disclose this information for inspection and enforcement purposes.

2. Who is leading the lawsuit?

The lawsuit was filed by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division under Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, with statements also issued by Attorney General Pamela Bondi and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan.

3. What laws does the DOJ say Virginia violated?

The DOJ cites the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960, which collectively require states to properly maintain voter rolls and provide access to election records.

4. What are voter rolls?

Voter rolls are official statewide lists of registered voters. They contain information used by election officials to verify eligibility, prevent duplicate registrations, and manage elections.

5. Why does the federal government want access to voter rolls?

The DOJ says access is necessary to evaluate whether states are properly maintaining accurate voter lists, removing ineligible registrations, and complying with federal election laws.

6. How many states have been sued so far?

According to the Justice Department, Virginia is the 24th state sued, along with the District of Columbia, as part of a nationwide legal campaign over voter roll access.

7. What is the DOJ trying to achieve with these lawsuits?

The DOJ says its goal is to enforce election transparency, ensure compliance with federal law, and protect election integrity by making sure voter registration systems are accurate and lawful.

8. Has Virginia responded to the lawsuit?

As of the latest update, Virginia officials have not issued a detailed public response to the lawsuit.

9. What could happen if the DOJ wins?

If the DOJ prevails, Virginia could be ordered by a federal court to provide the full voter registration lists and possibly change how it discloses election records in the future.

10. When was the lawsuit announced?

The Justice Department announced the lawsuit in January 2026.

---