Pennsylvania Election Official Responds to DOJ Lawsuit Over Voter Data

DOJ Lawsuit Over Voter Data

• 🎯 The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sued Pennsylvania and seven other states for refusing to provide personal voter data, including dates of birth and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.
• 🏛️ Pennsylvania's Secretary of the Commonwealth, Al Schmidt, states that the state law, federal law, and the Pennsylvania Constitution prohibit providing this sensitive information.
• ⚖️ Schmidt emphasizes that while the state is willing to share publicly available voter files, the DOJ's request for Social Security or driver's license numbers is illegal.

Concerns Over Sensitive Information

• 🔒 Schmidt highlights that this sensitive voter information is protected by law, and citizens, both Democrats and Republicans, have expressed gratitude for its non-disclosure to the federal government.
• 🚫 He reiterates that even if the administration wished to comply, state laws would prevent them from releasing such data.

Election Integrity and Voter Rolls

• ❌ The DOJ alleges that Pennsylvania lacks a process to determine if noncitizens are on voter rolls, a claim Schmidt refutes as factually inaccurate.
• ✅ Pennsylvania's automatic voter registration system, implemented by the Shapiro administration, is designed to prevent noncitizens from interfacing with the registration process.
• 🧐 Schmidt explains that individuals applying via paper applications swear under penalty of perjury that they are eligible to register, and the state conducts audits after every election to ensure accuracy.

Federal Overreach and Election Administration

• 🚩 Schmidt views the DOJ's actions as a concerning attempt at federal consolidation and overreach, asserting that states, not the federal government, run elections in the U.S.
• 🛡️ He draws a parallel to his experience as a Republican election commissioner in Philadelphia, emphasizing the seriousness with which election integrity allegations are treated.
• 🚀 Preparing for smooth election operations and preventing excuses for interference are key, with the outcome determined solely by voters.
• ⚖️ Schmidt expresses no personal concern about legal repercussions for certifying the 2020 election, as all actions were taken in accordance with the law.