U.S. Dept. of Justice Sues RI Sec. of State Over Voter Registration List, Amore Fires Back

U.S. Dept. of Justice Sues RI Sec. of State Over Voter Registration List, Amore Fires Back

Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore is firing back at the United States Department of Justice’s lawsuit filed against him on Tuesday - and his office's of voter data.

“I denied the Department of Justice’s unsubstantiated request for Rhode Islanders’ private information because the administration of elections falls under the purview of the states under the United States Constitution. One of my most important responsibilities as the chief state election official is safeguarding the data privacy of Rhode Islanders, who entrust us with their personal information when they register to vote. I will continue to fight to protect it, said Amore in response to the lawsuit filed in Federal Court in Rhode Island.

“This lawsuit, like those filed in other states, is a continuation of the current presidential administration’s unconstitutional attempts to interfere with election processes across the country. Rhode Islanders can be sure that our voter list maintenance activities adhere to federal and State election laws. As Secretary of State, I will fight to ensure that Rhode Island’s elections continue to be secure, fair, and accessible,” added Amore.

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This dispute was first unveiled by GoLocal last July.

 

DOJ Seeks in the Lawsuit:

Wherefore, the United States respectfully requests this Court:

A. Declare that Secretary Amore’s refusal to provide the Federal election records upon a demand by the Attorney General, acting through her representative the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, violates Section 303 of the Civil Rights Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20703;

B. Order Secretary Amore to provide to the Attorney General’s representative, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, an electronic copy of Rhode Island’s statewide Voter Registration List within five days, to include each registrant’s name, date of birth, address, and as required by HAVA, the last four digits of the registrant’s social security number, driver’s license/state identification number, or the unique HAVA identifier...

A HAVA identifier is a unique identification number assigned to a voter as required by the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). 

This story is developing...