Common Cause sues to stop transfer of voter information to Washington

Common Cause Nebraska has filed a lawsuit to prevent Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen from giving state voter information to federal officials.

The Justice Department asked Evnen Sept. 8 for names, addresses, dates of birth, drivers license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers of Nebraska voters. It said those are needed to ensure accurate voter registration rolls, and gave a deadline of Monday, Sept. 22.

In a statement accompanying the lawsuit, Gavin Geis said “Unelected bureaucrats in Washington have no business access every Nebraskans’ sensitive information. Not now, not ever.”

Some states have refused to provide the information. Evnen has said he would ask Attorney General Mike Hilgers for advice.

In a statement reacting to the lawsuit, Evnen’s office said it has not provided any information in response to the Sept. 8 letter. Neither his office nor Hilgers' would say if Hilgers’ requested advice had yet been delivered.