Alaska joins states providing voter data to Trump’s DOJ

Full names, birthdates, residential addresses, and driver’s license or last four digits of social security numbers turned over, Lt. Gov. says; most states have refused, citing privacy issues

An absentee ballot being mailed. (Alaska State Division of Elections photo)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

This is a developing story.

Alaska on Tuesday turned over "a complete list of eligible registered voters" to the U.S. Department of Justice, according to Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom.

The data is being demanded of states by President Donald Trump, declaring it’s to ensure only legal voters participate in elections. Opposition from mostly Democratic-led states includes concerns about the federal government exceeding its election law authority, privacy restrictions and potential abuses by the Trump administration with the information obtained.

Dahlstrom, in a prepared statement, said she is aligned with Trump’s stated goals.

“Alaska is committed to the integrity of our elections and to complying with applicable law,” said Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom. “Upon receiving the DOJ’s request, the Division of Elections, in consultation with the Department of Law, provided the voter registration list in accordance with federal requirements and state authority, while ensuring appropriate safeguards for sensitive information.”

State law allows the lieutenant governor, who oversees the Alaska Division of Elections, to "provide confidential voter information to a federal agency, if that agency only uses it for government purposes authorized by law," according to a press release issued by Dahlstrom’s office.

DOJ submitted its request for Alaska’s list on July 2.

The Justice Department has sued 21 states and the District of Columbia for unredacted copies of their voter rolls after demanding the data from most states in recent months, according to a Stateline report published Thursday.

The report also states DOJ "has sent a confidential draft agreement to more than a dozen states that would require election officials to remove any alleged ineligible voters identified during a federal review of their voter rolls." Eleven of those states have expressed interest. Alaska is not mentioned in the report.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.