South Carolina DOJ Voter Data Request Challenge

A pro-voting lawsuit seeking to prevent the South Carolina Election Commission from sharing statewide voter registration information with the DOJ.

Background

A South Carolina voter filed a lawsuit in state court against the South Carolina Election Commission (SCEC) to block the release of voter data requested by the U.S. Department of Justice. On Aug. 6 the DOJ sent a letter to the SCEC’s executive director demanding the statewide voter registration list and information, including each voter’s full name, date of birth, residential address, and either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a social security number. The voter argues that releasing this information would violate state privacy laws and the state constitution, and is asking the court to bar the SCEC from turning over the data.

Why It Matters

In recent months, the DOJ has been demanding that states hand over sensitive election and voter data — part of a broader anti-voting shift at the DOJ, aimed at pressuring states to clean up voter rolls and bolstering the Trump administration’s baseless hunt for illegal voting.

Latest Updates

• Oct. 31, 2025: Governor McMaster filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s amended complaint.
• Oct. 24, 2025: Plaintiff filed an amended complaint.
• Oct. 1, 2025: The court denied the voter’s motion for a temporary injunction.
• Sept. 26, 2025: Governor McMaster filed a motion to dismiss the case.
• Sept. 22, 2025: Plaintiff filed a motion for a temporary injunction barring the SCEC from turning over the requested voter data to the DOJ.
• Sept. 17, 2025: Venue was transferred to Richland County.
• Sept. 11, 2025: The South Carolina Supreme Court granted the Governor’s motion to intervene and reversed the lower court’s order granting the temporary restraining order.
• Sept. 9, 2025: The parties agreed to pause proceedings for 60 days to attempt to resolve the dispute.
• Sept. 4, 2025: The SCEC appealed to the South Carolina Supreme Court.
• Sept. 3, 2025: Governor McMaster filed a motion to intervene as a defendant.
• Sept. 2, 2025: The court granted a temporary restraining order barring the SCEC from turning over the requested voter data to the DOJ.
• Aug. 28, 2025: Plaintiff filed complaint.