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The core of the issue lies in the DOJ’s attempt to access Illinois’s voter database. While the state maintains records of registered voters, by law, Illinois can only disclose basic information such as names and addresses—information necessary for various administrative and electoral purposes. However, the DOJ requested more sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, home addresses, and other personal identifiers.
The Illinois State Board of Elections responded by refusing to supply such confidential information, citing legal protections. They emphasized that, under federal law, the state is only authorized to release minimal voter data and clarified that sensitive personal data such as Social Security numbers cannot be disclosed unless explicitly required by federal law.