DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has confirmed that the State of Iowa has complied with the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) request for voter registration data. The Iowa Secretary of State’s legal team reviewed legal authority, and after consultation with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, it was determined that the state was legally obligated to provide the data. The list was securely transferred to the Department of Justice in accordance with federal law. 

“We have a duty to follow the law,” said Secretary Pate. “We are legally obligated to comply with the request, but we do not take the obligation to turn this information over lightly. The Department of Justice has assured us that the data will be protected appropriately under federal law, and we expect them to uphold that promise.” 

Under the authority of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1960, the U.S. Attorney General may demand voter registration data, including elements normally considered personally identifiable information, such as driver's license and Social Security numbers.  The Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 permits the sharing of certain driver's license data between government agencies. Federal law is supreme over Iowa’s limitation on the release of voter information under the voter registration chapter and state privacy laws.  

“We are providing this information to the Department of Justice because we must comply with federal law,” added Secretary Pate. “It is a well-established fact and law that states are responsible for elections and voter list maintenance, and we urge the federal government to keep that in mind as they execute their duties to prosecute federal election misconduct.”