How state voter roll databases became the Trump administration’s political obsession

As our angry, divided nation prepares for the drama of the midterm elections, a humble and previously little-remarked-upon prop has suddenly taken center stage: the state voter roll.

As databases go, there’s nothing sexy — and certainly nothing secret — about them.

They’re produced with tax dollars, so like most other government records, they are open to the public by law. Even the states that restrict access somewhat, like California, make them available to reporters, political candidates and pretty much anyone else who can claim a scholarly, journalistic or government purpose.

They don’t show how you voted, but if you’re registered, they have your name, age, address and party affiliation. Ever wonder how some candidate you’ve never heard of got your address to stuff your mailbox with pictures of their grinning kids and suspiciously happy-looking dogs? Thank the voter roll.

But now the Trump administration — which presumably still has copies hanging around from the 2024 campaign — has demanded that states turn over fresh rolls to the federal government for a novel purpose: to be scrutinized by the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Homeland Security for ineligible voters.

Trump’s allegation of voter fraud

Trump, who has voted by mail himself, claims the system is rife with fraud. He insists left-leaning noncitizens are using mail-in ballots to sway elections in favor of his opponents — he just needs the voter rolls to prove it.

State elections officials, from both sides of the aisle, say there has never been any evidence to support such a claim.

Of course, lawsuits are flying in both directions. About two dozen mostly Democrat-led states, including California, are refusing to comply, claiming the rolls will be used to reject ballots from people who have every right to participate in free and fair elections.

“We’re not going to let Trump disenfranchise Americans or rig the rules to his advantage,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said on X. “The Voting Rights Act is hanging by a thread.”

What’s the effect on the midterm elections?

On Monday, the Supreme Court shined a bright, hot spotlight on the voter rolls when it ruled the Trump administration can proceed with its plans. States rushed to the courthouse steps to file new actions to prevent and delay that. The million-dollar question now is whether the issues will be resolved before the midterm elections.

So far, nobody really knows.

But as someone who worked for decades as a data guru on newspaper investigative teams from coast to coast, I have had a nagging question at the back of my mind throughout this drama: If the Trump administration already has access to the rolls — even if they’re a little dated — haven’t they already done the research? If there’s widespread fraud to be found, shouldn’t they already have found it?

Of course, a credible news outlet would hold off publishing information like that until they got their hands on the freshest, most accurate versions of the rolls, to make sure any claims they made were completely accurate.

But would Donald Trump? Even his best friends would admit he’s not the type to dot all of the I’s and cross all of the Ts before hurling accusations of fraud at his opponents. So what gives, have they actually found any illegal voters?

I put that question to the White House on Thursday. So far, no answer.

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This summer corn farrotto with brown butter and sweet burst tomatoes is like risotto but made with farro instead of riso — Italian for “rice.” Both delicious and healthy, farrotto is made from stock cooked with corn cobs, which makes for an intense corn experience. Food writer Carolynn Carreño says it’s all about the corn, so if it isn’t corn season, make something else.

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