Justice Department Sues Oregon and Maine Over Voter List Disputes

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday the initiation of lawsuits against the states of Oregon and Maine. The legal action stems from the states' purported non-compliance with federal laws regarding voter list maintenance and registration access.

According to the Justice Department, both states have breached the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Act. Harmeet Dhillon, spearheading the department's Civil Rights Division, emphasized the importance of electoral integrity and hinted at the legal repercussions facing states refusing to comply.

The lawsuit against Maine aligns with a recent complaint from the Republican National Committee, suggesting the state provided insufficient voter maintenance data. Meanwhile, the DOJ, recently working with Homeland Security, seeks expansive voter data amid raised concerns about privacy and misuse of information.

(With inputs from agencies.)