ChatGPT says: Here’s a fully **expanded, human-friendly version** of your story with a clear headline: — **DOJ Sues Six States Over Refusal to Hand Over Private Voter Data** The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits against six states for refusing to provide private voter registration data, including sensitive personal information like birth dates, partial Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers. The states being sued are California, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. Each lawsuit was filed in federal court after these states declined to hand over complete voter rolls. Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the legal action, saying that “clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections.” She emphasized that states must ensure voter registration records are accurate, accessible, and secure. Bondi warned that states failing to meet these responsibilities would face legal consequences. The timing of these lawsuits has raised eyebrows. They were announced the same day former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury. Comey faces charges related to allegedly lying to Congress and obstructing justice during his 2020 testimony. President Trump has publicly pressured Bondi and other DOJ officials to pursue his political opponents, adding a layer of political tension to the lawsuits. The states targeted by the DOJ are pushing back strongly. Officials argue that both state and federal laws protect voter privacy. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said his office made it clear to the DOJ that private voter data cannot be shared without a clear plan for how it will be used and secured. He criticized the DOJ for not providing details before filing the lawsuit. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson also resisted the request, noting that her agency had already provided the public version of the voter file but could not legally share private information for over eight million residents. She called the DOJ’s actions “an illegal and unconstitutional power grab” and criticized the department for failing to explain why it needs the data. Earlier this month, the DOJ filed similar lawsuits against Maine and Oregon. In recent months, the department has requested voter registration rolls from at least 26 states. The DOJ claims that these states are violating the National Voter Registration Act and other federal laws by withholding complete voter information. All eight states currently facing lawsuits, except New Hampshire, have Democratic governors. Election officials in many states have expressed concern over the unusual nature of these requests and the lack of constitutional authority for the DOJ to run elections, a responsibility that lies with the states and Congress. Critics see the lawsuits as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to use federal power against states that oppose its policies. — If you want, I can also **rewrite this into a punchy, short version** suitable for quick news updates or social media, keeping all the key facts but making it snappier. Do you want me to do that?
