President Donald Trump's Justice Department is suing the state of Oklahoma for refusing to turn over confidential information from its voter rolls.
According to KOSU, "Earlier this month, State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax wrote in a letter first obtained by Oklahoma News 4 that he could not legally share voter data with the DOJ. The Trump administration disagrees with Ziriax’s interpretation. Oklahoma was among five states sued Thursday by the DOJ."
Among the information the DOJ demanded from the Oklahoma State Election Board is the driver's license and Social Security numbers of people registered to vote — a demand they have made in other states as well.
"Accurate, well-maintained voter rolls are a requisite for the election integrity that the American people deserve," said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement announcing the lawsuit. "This latest series of litigation underscores that This (sic) Department of Justice is fulfilling its duty to ensure transparency, voter roll maintenance, and secure elections across the country."
A number of other states have also refused to hand over their voter rolls, and Oklahoma is not alone among Republican-controlled states. Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who famously rebuffed Trump's demands to "find" extra votes in 2020 and is currently running for governor, also did not comply with the order.
This comes as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who was elected as a hard-right candidate, has grown bolder in speaking out against the Trump administration's more controversial policies in recent months. In an interview this week, he criticized Trump for rolling back renewable energy projects and pursuing a no-tolerance mass deportation program.
