Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has taken a cautious step in response to a Department of Justice (DOJ) request that raised eyebrows across Washington state. On Tuesday, Hobbs directed his office to hand over only the voter registration information that state law deems publicly disclosable, deftly sidestepping federal overreach into confidential data. Providing the DOJ with details like a registrant's name, address, year of birth, and voting history, Hobbs is sticking to the script laid out by RCWs 29A.08.710 and 29A.08.720. More sensitive data, such as the final four of a Social Security number and other personally identifiable information, will remain secured from public purview.
Emphasizing his role in safeguarding voter privacy, Hobbs stated, "As Washington state’s chief elections officer, I take my duty to protect voters and the sensitive information they entrust to the state very seriously," according to the Washington Secretary of State's office news release. The DOJ's letter does invoke the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, but Hobbs was quick to point out that these provisions don't stipulate that states must surrender confidential information. This move layers another debate over voter privacy amid shifting explanations from the DOJ regarding their request, particularly concerning the potential creation of a national database or sharing records for purposes unauthorized by law.
Concern isn't only emanating from the state's adherence to the statutes. Hobbs has echoed a broader disquiet about the DOJ's intentions, suggesting that such actions might clash with the federal Privacy Act of 1974, which dictates stringent conditions for the creation and handling of federal records systems. Reports have stirred the pot, indicating the DOJ could misuse state voter files, a prospect that Hobbs warns could carry significant legal questions.
"Our office is committed to transparency and accountability in elections," Hobbs affirmed, as reported by the Washington Secretary of State. "But transparency does not mean putting the personal information of every Washington voter at risk. The law is clear, and my responsibility is to the voters of this state." This declaration positions Hobbs as a bulwark against potential federal overstep, consciously prioritizing the privacy rights of Washingtonians over broader federal data aggregation efforts.
