It’s no secret that voter confidence in the integrity of our elections has been eroding for some time. A Gallup survey conducted just before the last presidential election found that only 57 percent of Americans believed that the votes for president would be accurately counted. The legacy news media routinely blame this phenomenon on “election deniers,” yet studiously ignore the large number of states that flout federal election laws requiring officials to maintain clean voter registration rolls and make them available for public inspection.
In short, the liberal establishment in this country has actively created an election integrity crisis by refusing to comply with federal law and then calling conservatives conspiracy theorists for noticing.
This problem has become so rampant that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been forced to file lawsuits against 14 Democrat-dominated states pursuant to persistent violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). NVRA requires states to maintain accurate voter rolls by conducting regular list maintenance to remove ineligible voters. HAVA builds on that framework by mandating statewide voter registration databases and verification procedures to help election officials identify and correct outdated, duplicate, or invalid registrations.
On Friday, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon announced in a video posted on X that her office is suing states that have knowingly failed to comply with those laws. “Now, we have 15 lawsuits pending against 14 states,” Dhillon wrote. “That’s right—California got sued twice—and we are in litigation with them. They’re refusing to provide their records.”
The list of the states that the DOJ had to sue will surprise no one: California, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. North Carolina finally relented in September, and a federal court approved a consent decree in which the Tar Heel State agreed to remove approximately 100,000 people who remained on its voter rolls without identifying information required by federal law. Dhillon said another 12 states are cooperating:
“We sued North Carolina early on, and they are checking the voter records of 100,000 voters who were improperly enrolled on their voter rolls, and they’re going to fix their problem. Voluntarily, we have an agreement in place with almost another dozen states, and I expect very soon we’ll be looking at their voter data and comparing it with our records and helping them clean up those voter rolls.”
Despite very reluctant and dilatory cooperation from the states, Dhillon revealed that the DOJ has already made some disturbing discoveries: “We’ve found 260,000-plus dead people enrolled in the states’ voter rolls, which is pretty concerning. They’re going to be removed with the help of the DOJ.” She added, “There are several thousand non-citizens who are enrolled to vote in federal elections. This is very concerning, and the DOJ is partnering with local law enforcement where appropriate to prosecute people who have unlawfully voted in our elections.”
All of which raises the following question: What legitimate objection would any state have to a Justice Department audit of its voter rolls? It’s not as if the laws invoked by Assistant A.G. Dhillon are new. The NVRA was passed in 1993 and signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton. HAVA was passed in 2002 and signed into law by then-President George W. Bush.
Nor do the audits impose a financial burden. HAVA even provides federal funds to states to offset costs. The following shows how much money these 14 states received in 2024:
The taxpayers are shelling out $2.1 million for election integrity, yet these states ignore federal law, and their election officials refuse to do their job.
So, if NVRA and HAVA have been on the books for decades, both require states to maintain accurate voter registration rolls while making them available for public inspection, and the states are provided with federal funds to do all this, what’s the problem? It’s difficult to escape the impression that the above-named states have something to hide. If the DOJ has already found so many dead people and non-citizens on the voter rolls of relatively cooperative states, what are they likely to find in a state like California, where something as simple as requiring voters to show an ID is literally illegal?
The responses from some of the states tell the tale. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber (D) called DOJ’s lawsuit a fishing expedition: “The U.S. Department of Justice is attempting to utilize the federal court system to erode the rights of the State of California and its citizens by trying to intimidate California officials into giving up the private and personal information of 23 million California voters.”
How precisely does an audit of the Golden State’s voter registration rolls put these voters at risk? Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) tries to explain:
“This baseless, partisan lawsuit is about one thing: restricting the right to vote in order to undermine our democracy. Whether it’s combing through personal voter information or threatening to prosecute hardworking election officials, Donald Trump and his Administration will stop at nothing … Now he’s weaponizing the Department of Justice in a clear attempt to purge eligible citizens from voter rolls.”
Nice try, Senator. It’s obviously illegal to “purge eligible voters from voter rolls” unless they reside in Forest Lawn or they have been deported by ICE to some third-world hellhole—like San Francisco. This is why there is so much erosion in voter confidence in the integrity of our elections.
It is increasingly obvious that the Democrats must and will continue to resort to election skullduggery in order to retain their tenuous grasp on political power.
David Catron is a Senior Editor at the American Spectator. His writing has also appeared in PJ Media, the American Thinker, the Providence Journal, the Catholic Exchange and a variety of other publications.
These “Blue/Leftist” states will continue to defy DOJ in hoping that the 2026 midterm election will go the Democrats way so as to derail President Trump’s agenda. The battle of good vs. evil continues.
“The legacy news media routinely blame this phenomenon on “election deniers,” yet studiously ignore the large number of states that flout federal election laws requiring officials to maintain clean voter registration rolls and make them available for public inspection.
In short, the liberal establishment in this country has actively created an election integrity crisis by refusing to comply with federal law and then calling conservatives conspiracy theorists for noticing”.
In short, this is yet another example of gaslighting by the Left. Why is election integrity such a problem with only one party?
I think the answer is obvious.
Any/All attempts by marxist democrats to block examination of ANY waste,corruption and illegality, shows EXACTLY that they are cheating,stealing and breaking the laws and violating Our Constitution.
EVERYONE commiting these acts MUST be exposed and prosecuted!!
ENOUGH of this Garbage. Do your jobs looking out FOR the American citizens NOT standing in the way of fixing the problems.
A couple years ago, Judicial Watch found that there were more registered voters in LA County than there were people of voting age living in the county. They sued the county to clean their voter roles. It was discovered that people moved and registered elsewhere, but were still on the voter roles at their old address. Voters long in the grave were also still on the voter roles. All of these voters were mailed ballots during COVID. I’m wondering how many of them managed to vote.
Do we expect anything different by these criminally run states – especially California? Save us please.
If elected officials don’t want to follow the law, then they should be prosecuted. States that do not comply with election law should be disqualified from participating in elections.
I’m surprised Oregon isn’t being sued.
I reside in the largest city in the Central Valley area of California. This is primarily Ag-related country and bastion to a very large population of Conservative, constitutional believers who KNOW our state’s Democratic, super-majority legislature continues to do whatever is necessary for them to retain complete power…they are firm believers that the ends justify the means. Here in CA the MSM media is firmly in their pocket. The only way to ensure fair, trustworthy elections are enforcing Voter ID laws….we conservatives are not holding our breath, for tyrants will never willingly do anything to lessen their grip on control.
Arrest all of the democrats that support defying ICE and preventing them from executing their duties to control immigration and especially illegal immigrants that have criminal records. Democrats are the most un-American citizens that have existed since before the civil war. Ship the democrat politicians out with the illegal immigrants. We don’t need or want them in America. We have limits regarding the number of eligible immigrants we permit to enter our nation.
That is well known and documented that Democrats cannot win unless they cheat. We know they’re doing it, they know they’re doing it, the question is why do they still got away with it? Why do you think they oppose voter ID, why do you think they let 12 million illegal immigrants into the country. When they get caught in the first thing they do is scream racism! Read Saul alinsky’s book rules for radicals, you can see their playbook laid right out in front of you. I guess is they will get away with it this time too
The democrats are being exposed for what they are. Power grabbing communists who see an opponent, that is doing things legally, as a power grab. Because they know one when they see one because that is how they rule. How many policies haven’t been passed in CA to restrict conservatives and let’s the democrats do things legal
or illegally in most cases. Bass in LA says we control LA while police cars are set on fire, police officers being bombarded with rocks and trash dumpster pushed at them. And Antifa soldiers, I call them Ninja Turtles, screaming in their faces “don’t touch me” 2 inches from the police officers face. We have oversight on voter rolls. Even money is available to the states to cover the cost of purging these rolls. And still they object and call it weaponizing. Stop. It is illegal what these states are doing. But then the democrats are criminals because they like everything that is illegal.
You come here illegal. Welcome man, you murder someone they will let him go home it was the victims fault for allowing to murder you. Robberies and raping the same. Burning down all the distribution centers and inflation occurred, first a shortage of goods. It was all planned. Because those in charge were in on the plan. The fires in Jan in CA. Was a plan. No water in the reservoir no hydrants hooked up to water no escape routes and no fire dept prepared to fight the fires. Was never looked at to improve. No the fish nobody ever heard of or cared about that was protected. Do you see a trend here? After the fire in Hawaii it should have raised a big red flag with the CA fire. And still Newsom and the gang got away with it. No the democrats are using language to divide this country. The Trump administration is not fighting them is just fixing what they have broken. Trump is working what is good for America and its citizens. The democrats obstruct everything that is good for America. They will fight for their dictatorship to the death. No matter who is in their way.
The next new election threat will be AI. It’s implanted in all computers, and I’d bet will be implanted in all voting machines by the 2026 election. Again, it’s closing in on 1-years of Trumps Presidency and even with all the hard evidence that has been brought forward, not a one liberal far left democrat sits behind bars. DOJ brought charges with hard evidence and a liberal judges dismissed the charges. I’ll continue voting every election Republican, but I now believe it’ll be for not because our country and the world is so consumed with evil and corruption that only the end by the hand of God will end all of this and save us.
The radical liberals are very good at cheating and lying and always have been. They are dead set on destroying our Democratic Republic and they are doing a darn good job of it! They are on the wrong side of law and order and anything that that President Trump does to make our country better. Of course they are fighting to keep their districts the same because they want ALL of the power forever.
Go get ‘em, Harmeet!!!!
I am in Michigan and our state government makes me sick.
I heard that you can sue the state to clean the voter rolls and they may clean them. If you look at them again in a couple months, especially getting close to an election, many of the sane names are back on.
Hopefully there will be personal consequences for those refusing to follow the laws. If the blue states end up paying the penalties, those committing the crimes will just continue to do so.
‘bout time. Thank you!
AMAC. I know that you are doing your best to clean scammers off the comments but there are still 1 or 2 still on your articles.
Colorado is also refusing to disclose their records.
I thought our politicians wanted the TRUTH to prevail, but it is being shown in various ways they are trying to hide the truth. Every citizen in America should want Truth in our elections and dead or invalid voters removed from the voting rolls NOW, but many apparently want to cheat their way to a winning election. Is this what our founding fathers envisioned for their beautiful new country?! I think not. Out with the Trash and in with Truth, Justice and the American Way!
Blue States stuck in 2020 election mode
I 100% support them requesting an audit and I pray they are successful in getting it done. We need to know! Thank you for what you do!
SIMPLY PUT …. Lead, Follow, or get the he!! out of the way. Try reading the Supremacy Clause (Article VI / Clause 2)… nuff said !!
geeee let me think,what could they be hiding,could it be illegals and dead people voting. Why only the dems.defy the rule of law.
I,ve had enough,time remove dems, nd rino,s
Just like the illegally-formed “J6 Committee,” people who refuse to produce evidence are always HIDING something! We know that voter fraud is rampant in several “blue” states. If they do not present their files, cut off ALL their federal funds. That is all that is keeping IL and CA afloat right now!
If a state will not comply with federal audits, there votes should not be counted in federal elections and not be represented in congress. Just a thought
Maine is a perfect Poster Perfect example of how NOT to operate as an American State… We need President Trump in here to help us clean up Federal Medicaid fraud, Bellows Fraud, Crime in at least 2 major cities.. Lewiston and Bangor
and toss Mills out on a manure shovel!
I am surprised New Jersey wasn’t on the list.
As with the requirement to show ID when entering the Voting place, an audit should be performed in all states by a joint Democrat and Republican committee at least within the year leading up to an Election. Enough of the whining about how difficult it is to get an ID. I have to present my ID every time I see a Doctor, every time I go to the Airport to take a flight, often when I pick up a prescription. An ID is often asked for when purchasing liquor Voter rolls should be cleaned up and Voter ID should be a requirement not a choice. Lets get some honesty back in our Government.
Reckon anything will come of this? Yeah, me neither….
The DOJ should file criminal charges!
Got to many illegals in our country voting cause of no oversight by law abiding citizens and the Democrats only want votes and they don’t care about the USA ..most people here legally from other countries are losing cause of illegals.. illegals came in illegally,we do have immigration laws in place to stop it ..plus if you don’t apply for citizenship in years they have been here those people are not following the laws in place ..so deport them all ..
There would be only one reason to block the voter rolls, they want to continue to cheat.
In Delaware county court cv-2023-002253 is a court case about removal of electors records. We are fighting but judges are biased
The civil war 2 is coming. Prepare.If we aren’t fighting the Dems, we’ll be fighting the horde.Arm up and be ready.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the PA governors race has been stolen for decades. Why, because PA has been voting in a Republican Senate and House for years but then miraculously we get a Dem governor. Then the media and the newly ‘selected’ governor will tell Pennsylvania voters that we like split government so we vote Republican Congress and Dem governor. One problem, nobody knows anyone who votes that way and infact they keep telling us what a divided nation we are on the news, EXCEPT FOR HERE IN PA? It’s all smoke & mirrors.
What a great and informative reporting . Let’s just hope now that we get some real results about this bcuz when it comes to DOJ everything turns into a “Nothing Berger” and these commies end up winning and getting everything they want and the way they want it. They know those REPUG-BLIKAN are NOT real fighters, they only pretend that they are making an effort to win.
Put all those bastards in jail with the criminals they let in, then they can see what is happening to the American people.
Interesting how the vast majority of vote corruption is in states led by democratic governors. These governors are playing cover up to protect their power and money, which are strong incentives, even though illegal.
Please come and audit Nevada as well. Before the mid-terms.
Democrats objecting to accountability is like cockroaches objecting to sunlight.
Pull their federal grants till they comply.
I personally want these audits, because in the 2020 election there was no one that I ever talked to that voted for Joe Biden! And then in AZ, no one voted for Katie Hobbs either in the 2024 elections, and it took 8 days for the state election count to be done, 8 DAYS!
I have no doubt that there is election fraud and it has to be stopped and people held accountable. PERIOD!
Blue States are hiding something. Otherwise, they would cooperate.
Take away their funding immediately, then sue them for the last payment if they still don’t comply. They want the money to do the job, then refuse to do it and claim the DoJ is paranoid. The proof is in what has been discovered in other states. These are the same states tht refuse to comply with ICE to purge the illegal aliens ( who, by definition of illegal, are all criminals. And if they have an anchor baby, then they have a choice; leave the child with friends or family, or take the child with them and then the child can legally return at 18.). We need to amend the birthright to “ at least one parent must be legal.
I think we need an Executive order from President Trump that ALL STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE TO investigation of voter FRAUD, also enforcing NO illegals voting. THEY MUST BE REMOVED FROM VOTER ROSTERS. Including Sanctuary Cities!
Thank you, for that optimistic work that our “election integrity” officials did in these “Blue States”. Also, isn’t it nice to see the “doj” earn their paychecks, and do the RIGHT THING, for a change? Also Mr. Catron, there was the “Presidential Elections of 2024, where who, President Trump had to hire 500 lawyers, to make sure we were getting legitimate election results?
I been thinking hard trying to find a valid and logical reason for states not wanting to provide voter registration records to federal authorities but no matter how hard i tried i was unable to come up with any .
Providing data hardly imposes a financial burden and the information provided in election records dwarfs what the federal government already has on most people legally in the US so privacy cant be the reason either .
This only leaves one possibility , systemic and organized fraud run or at least condoned by state authorities – period !
There are 3 fraud schemes that i can think of though there might be more:
1.) Non citizens voting : thats a easy one , people not allowed to vote are casting ballots , since local authorities dont request citizenship information its easy to do especially in states that issue drivers licenses to illegal aliens
2.) Voter impersonation:
if voter rolls contain people that are dead , incarcerated or otherwise unable to vote than their information can be used to have volunteers voting in their names
3.) double registration
lets say A is registered in A but studies at a college in B than he can vote twice by mail in A and in person in B
Why isn’t the DOJ making use of Section 434 of the Clinton Welfare reform bill (PRWORA)? That legislation would allow the Federal government to turn over the medicaid/medicare rolls to local government officials to check on registration and voting of any non-citizen in their jurisdiction. DOJ would present a list (name, address, age, sex) of all known non-citizens in say a County, and the registrar of voters for that county could compare it for matches. Section 434 prevents anyone from interfering with that, and plenty of local registrars are not Deep Blue Progressives… even in California.
Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, no State or local government entity may be prohibited, or in any way restricted, from sending to or receiving from the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of an alien in the United States.
I live in AZ and phoned Mark Kelly about my views on his performance. Within a couple of days I received a letter requesting funds for Mark Kelly but it was addressed to my husband who died 11 years ago. I wonder if he is still on the voter list and some one is voting for him. Have no idea if anything can be done about this?