Trump administration demands state voter data, including partial Social Security numbers

TheTrumpadministrationhassteppedupeffortstoobtainpersonalinformationabouttensofmillionsofvotersacrossthecountry,includingseekingsensitivedatasuchaspartialSocialSecuritynumbers. Thepush,overseenbytheDepartmentofJustice,comesasPresidentDonaldTrumpassertsalargerfederalroleinelectionsaheadofnextyear’smidterms,whicharesettodeterminewhichpartycontrolsCongressduringhislasttwoyearsintheWhiteHouse. Inrecentweeks,stateelectionofficialshavereceivedlettersfromHarmeetDhillon,whooverseestheJusticeDepartment’sCivilRightsDivision,seekingunredactedcopiesofstates’voterregistrationdatabases.Theinformationincludesvoters’names,birthdates,addresses,anddriver’slicensenumbersorthelastfourdigitsoftheirSocialSecuritynumbers. Theagencyhastoldstatesthattheinformationisnecessarytoensurecompliancewithafederallawthatrequiresstatestomaintainaccuratevoterregistrationrolls. Butsomestateofficialswhohavereceivedthemissivesargue