The ACLU and its Nevada chapter filed a motion Tuesday to challenge the Justice Department's pursuit of sensitive voter data in its lawsuit against the state, News3LV reported.
The ACLU of Nevada, through Executive Director Athar Haseebullah, said its motion aims to defend Nevadans’ privacy against what it sees as improper federal demands, emphasizing that its organizational mission could be at risk, News3LV reported.
The Justice Department's lawsuit against Nevada, along with three other states and a Georgia county, cites the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to justify its request for voter information. Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar, however, expressed concern over data security, saying the federal government is 'using its power to try to intimidate states and influence how states administer elections ahead of the 2026 cycle,' News3LV reported.
The national ACLU has joined the ACLU of Nevada in challenging the federal lawsuit, which accuses Secretary Aguilar of failing to provide statewide voter registration lists, including Social Security and driver’s license numbers. 'We will not let the federal government go unchallenged as it seeks to violate Nevadans’ civil liberties by improperly obtaining and misusing Nevada voters' personal data,' said Executive Director Athar Haseebullah, 8NewsNow reported.
The ACLU argues that the DOJ’s data request exceeds Nevada’s public disclosure laws and could lead to voter harassment or disenfranchisement. The organization has filed similar motions in Maryland, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Oregon, California, and Minnesota as part of a broader effort to protect voter privacy, according to the ACLU of Nevada’s website.
