Jefferson County clerk challenges DOJ push for unredacted voter list

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Jefferson County Clerk David Yates filed a motion to intervene in the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit seeking the release of Kentucky's unredacted voter registration list.

Yates announced the move during a news conference Tuesday.

The lawsuit, which was filed by the DOJ against the secretary of state and the State Board of Elections, aims to release sensitive, personal voter data. This includes identifiers such as Social Security and driver's license numbers, information Kentucky declined to provide under state law.

Yates, the first county clerk to take legal action to stop the DOJ's lawsuit, said Tuesday that he believes the release of this information would violate state law and put sensitive information at risk.

"As the chief election official for Jefferson County, I have a statutory duty to protect the confidential personal information entrusted to us by our voters," he said. "This lawsuit directly affects my office's responsibilities, and I believe it is essential that the voices and privacy rights of Jefferson County citizens are strongly defended."

The motion was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in partnership with the Jefferson County Attorney's Office. Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell called the lawsuit a "federal misstep" that directly impacts the clerk's legal obligation to safeguard voter information.

Yates said releasing unredacted voter information could undermine trust in local election and cause "confusion or fear."

"People need to feel confident that when they register to vote, their personal information will remain secure," Yates said. "If their most sensitive data is handed over unnecessarily, it could discourage participation and damage confidence in our democratic system."

The motion argues complying with the DOJ's request would force Yates' office to violate state privacy laws.

The case now moves forward in federal court as officials decide whether the voter data must be released.

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Jefferson County clerk candidate Roz Welch said she "stands in solidarity" with Yates.

"The DOJ does not have a right to our confidential information. The DOJ has no articulable suspicion of fraud in Kentucky elections and therefore does not have the right to the information," Welch said.