Utah lieutenant governor says federal actions threaten election data privacy
Utah Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson warns that a Justice Department request for detailed voter information represents an internal threat to election integrity.
Deidre Henderson, Utah's lieutenant governor responsible for elections, said that the Justice Department's demand for full voter rolls—including Social Security numbers, birth dates and driver’s license numbers—poses a new, internal threat to election security. While past threats were external, she argues this request breaches legal confidentiality requirements, prompting her refusal to provide the data alongside 29 other states.
The DOJ has since opened an investigation into Henderson's actions. Federal agents have recently seized ballots and voting machines, and the Trump administration has pursued policies restricting mail-in voting and demanding proof of citizenship. The Department of Justice also sued California over alleged non-citizen ballots, a claim the state’s Secretary of State Shirley Weber says lacks evidence. Henderson maintains she will uphold what she sees as necessary safeguards despite potential consequences.
Why it matters
State officials fear federal data requests could undermine voter privacy and confidence in U.S. elections.
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