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Steve Hobbs Defends Washington's Private Voter Data Against Federal Government's Sweeping Demands

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs defended the state's private voter information during a federal court hearing regarding a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit. The administration's department sought the state's full, unredacted voter registration list, including sensitive identifiers like Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers. Steve Hobbs argued that Washington has already provided all publicly available data while complying with state and federal privacy laws. He noted that the federal government has lost 18 of the previous 19 district court cases regarding these voter rolls. The Department of Justice conceded that the Washington case is materially similar to those previous losses. During the hearing, the court questioned the department's lack of a specific factual basis for the demand. Steve Hobbs emphasized that the state's registration system remains secure and accurate, citing low instances of voter fraud over the last 20 years. He stated his office will continue to protect private voter information while ensuring the integrity of the state's voter roll.

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