Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers says DOJ’s request for voter data ‘well within bounds’
MONUMENT. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR NEBRASKA SAYS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S REQUEST FOR THE STATE’S VOTER DATA, INCLUDING VOTER INFORMATION, IS, QUOTE, WELL WITHIN BOUNDS. BUT A VOTING ADVOCACY GROUP HAS FILED A LAWSUIT TRYING TO PREVENT THE INFORMATION FROM BEING RELEASED. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S MADISON PERALES SPOKE WITH THE NONPROFIT AND JOINS US FROM THE CAPITOL. COMMON CAUSE IS SUING THE NEBRASKA SECRETARY OF STATE, BOB EVNEN, IN EFFORT TO KEEP VOTERS PERSONAL INFORMATION PRIVATE. EVAN TELLS ME THAT THIS REQUEST WILL NOT BE HANDLED UNTIL AFTER THE LITIGATION IS COMPLETE. THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LETTER SENT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, BOB EVNEN. IT ASKS FOR VOTERS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, DATES OF BIRTH AND DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBERS. ADDRESSING PRIVACY CONCERNS, THE DOJ SAYS THE INFORMATION IS, QUOTE, SUBJECT TO FEDERAL PRIVACY PROTECTIONS. HOWEVER, COMMON CAUSE NEBRASKA’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GAVIN GEISE, SAYS THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION SHOULD STAY WITHIN THE STATE BORDERS. I’D HOPE THEY’D BE OPEN TO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SECURING OUR DATA AND ENSURING IT DOESN’T DOESN’T LEAVE THE STATE, FRANKLY, AND STAYS HERE WHERE WE MANAGE IT. SECRETARY OF STATE BOB EVANS SAYS HE’S CONFIDENT THE DOJ WILL USE THE INFORMATION FOR REASONS STATED IN THE LETTER, ADDING WE DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH VOTER FRAUD IN NEBRASKA. HE ECHOES WHAT ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE HILGERS SAID TUESDAY AT A NEWS CONFERENCE. I’D LIKE ASSURANCES THAT IT WILL BE USED FOR PURPOSES THAT ARE STATED, BUT I’M CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL BE. ADDING HE TRUSTS THE FEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THE INFORMATION. THIS VOTER FRAUD ISSUE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK AT. THERE’S NO DOUBT THERE’S VOTER FRAUD THAT GOES ON AROUND THE COUNTRY. HOWEVER, GEISE BELIEVES THIS TYPE OF REQUEST GOES AGAINST THE LAW. THE U.S. CONSTITUTION GIVES STATES THE POWER TO REGULATE AND OVERSEE ELECTIONS. IT DOES NOT GIVE THAT POWER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IT DOES NOT GIVE IT TO THE DOJ. IT DOESN’T GIVE IT TO THE PRESIDENT. IT GIVES IT TO THE STATES. GEISE SAYS THE LITIGATION COULD TAKE UP TO A FEW MONTHS. AND EVNEN ALSO TELLS ME THAT HE HASN’T MET WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE HILGERS JUST YET, AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE MEETING SOMETIME THIS WEEK. REPORTING IN LINCOLN, MADISON,
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers says DOJ’s request for voter data ‘well within bounds’
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said the Department of Justice’s request for the state’s voter data is “in bounds.”The deadline to receive this data was Monday.KETV spoke with Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who said last week he will do his best to protect Nebraskans’ personal information.Previous coverage: DOJ requests Nebraska voter data, including personal informationHe sent the letter to the Hilgers’ office for advice.While the decision has not been made yet, in a press conference, Hilgers said the request is to ensure there isn’t voter fraud happening in the states, citing one case where Nebraska convicted a person of voter fraud.He then went on to say the federal agency is ensuring that people in the country illegally aren’t stealing S0cial Security numbers and registering to vote.”I think the information that the Department of Justice is seeking is well within bounds. It’s well within the law. Certainly, I’m sensitive to the concerns of Nebraskans about their own personal information. It’s one that we all need to take into account. Having said that, we are in active litigation, and we have a Nebraska case going on, and we’ll see what the court has to say,” Hilgers said.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said the Department of Justice’s request for the state’s voter data is “in bounds.”
The deadline to receive this data was Monday.
KETV spoke with Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who said last week he will do his best to protect Nebraskans’ personal information.
Previous coverage: DOJ requests Nebraska voter data, including personal information
He sent the letter to the Hilgers’ office for advice.
While the decision has not been made yet, in a press conference, Hilgers said the request is to ensure there isn’t voter fraud happening in the states, citing one case where Nebraska convicted a person of voter fraud.
He then went on to say the federal agency is ensuring that people in the country illegally aren’t stealing S0cial Security numbers and registering to vote.
“I think the information that the Department of Justice is seeking is well within bounds. It’s well within the law. Certainly, I’m sensitive to the concerns of Nebraskans about their own personal information. It’s one that we all need to take into account. Having said that, we are in active litigation, and we have a Nebraska case going on, and we’ll see what the court has to say,” Hilgers said.
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