LINCOLN, NE - The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally requested that Nebraska provide its complete, unredacted voter registration data, including names, addresses, dates of birth, driver's license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers. This request, issued under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), has raised significant privacy and security concerns among state officials and advocacy groups.
Secretary of State Bob Evnen received the request on September 8, 2025, with a compliance deadline of September 22. The state has forwarded the matter to the Nebraska Attorney General's office for legal review. Nebraska law already provides public access to a redacted version of the voter list, excluding sensitive personal information.
Advocacy organizations, such as Civic Nebraska, have expressed alarm over the potential risks associated with releasing unredacted voter data. They warn that such information could be exploited for identity theft and may violate federal privacy protections.
The DOJ's request is part of a broader initiative to obtain detailed voter information from multiple states, including Oregon and Maine. The department has filed lawsuits against these states for failing to provide electronic copies of their voter registration rolls, citing violations of federal laws designed to ensure fair access to elections. Critics argue that the DOJ's actions represent federal overreach and raise concerns about the misuse of sensitive voter data.
As the September 22 deadline approaches, Nebraska officials are considering their response to the DOJ's request, balancing federal mandates with state privacy laws and the potential risks to voter security.