Richmond, Va. – Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones sent a formal letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Thursday demanding written confirmation that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not direct any employee to retrieve Virginia voter information without the voters’ consent. Jones warned that the Virginia Election Code forbids the disclosure of protected voter data to the federal government without a court order.
Letter cites whistleblower allegations
In the letter, obtained by the Associated Press, Jones highlighted an anonymous whistleblower report that claims DHS staff were instructed to use state voter‑lookup tools to identify “unlawful voters,” a term the report uses to refer to illegal immigrants. According to the report, a training session in late August required U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employees to pause other duties, complete a brief two‑hour briefing, and then run DHS‑provided lists through Virginia’s voter registration system.
The whistleblower says agents were expected to review roughly 40 individuals per day, giving them about 12 minutes per person to determine whether each individual was a legal voter. Those deemed ineligible would be recorded in a federal database.
State law limits voter‑lookup tools
Virginia law permits the use of voter‑lookup tools only by individuals who attest, under penalty of law, that they are searching for their own records. Any broader disclosure to a federal agency without a court order is expressly prohibited. Jones asked Mullin to preserve all related records, including access logs, correspondence, and the training materials referenced in the whistleblower’s account.
Federal officials defend the effort
The Trump administration has repeatedly warned that illegal‑immigrant voting could be a source of fraud in the upcoming November midterm elections, despite research showing such incidents are exceedingly rare. The Justice Department has filed lawsuits seeking detailed voter data in 30 states and the District of Columbia, though those suits have yet to succeed.
In response to the AG’s letter, the Department of Homeland Security has not yet commented.
Implications for Virginia voters
If the allegations are verified, DHS could be in violation of state law, potentially prompting legal action or a federal‑state dispute over jurisdiction. Virginia officials have stressed the importance of protecting voter privacy and maintaining the integrity of the state’s election system.
Jones’ demand for a written response and preservation of records underscores the Commonwealth’s commitment to enforce its election statutes and to ensure that any federal request for voter data follows proper legal channels.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
