Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore is disputing a July 7 letter from the U.S. Department of Justice that warned state election officials they could face criminal charges if noncitizens are allowed to vote in federal elections.
DOJ presses states for voter-roll details
The seven-page communication, sent by Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, requested an outline of the steps Rhode Island is taking to maintain “clean voter lists” and asked for information about how the state complies with federal election law — with a five-day timeline for a response, Amore’s office said Friday.
“Any election officer, including the chief election officer of the state, who knowingly retains noncitizens on the state’s (statewide voter registration list) or facilitates noncitizens in receiving and casting ballots could be subject to criminal liability,”
Dhillon’s office sent similar letters to all 50 states, naming several by example, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland and Washington, according to Amore’s statement.
Amore rejects threat, says Rhode Island follows the law
In a brief response to the Justice Department, Amore said Rhode Island election officials are already familiar with federal election statutes and are committed to following them. He framed the letter’s intent as coercive.
“The letter’s true intention was obvious: to intimidate election officials in an effort to make us fall in line with the administration’s unconstitutional overreaches into election administration,” Amore wrote, according to his office.
Amore also emphasized confidence in the state’s voter maintenance practices and said local and state officials conduct list maintenance to ensure only eligible voters remain on the rolls.
Background on the wider dispute
This exchange follows a broader clash between Rhode Island and the Justice Department last year. Amore refused requests to turn over sensitive voter-roll information to federal investigators, prompting the DOJ to sue the state in December. A federal judge, U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy, denied parts of the department’s demands on April 17, the office said.
| Key dates | Action |
|---|---|
| December (previous year) | DOJ filed suit seeking voter-roll data |
| April 17 | Judge McElroy denied some DOJ demands |
| July 7 | Assistant AG Dhillon sent letters to all 50 states |
Election administrators in Rhode Island and nationwide now face heightened scrutiny as federal officials press for documentation showing how states prevent ineligible voters from casting ballots. The timeline and tone of Dhillon’s request — together with a short response window — have prompted criticism from state officials who say the approach interferes with independent election administration.
- Who is involved: Secretary of State Gregg Amore; Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon; U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy.
- What was requested: An outline of voter-list maintenance steps and compliance with federal law within five days.
- Scope: Similar letters were sent to every state.
For Rhode Islanders, the dispute has practical implications: it touches data privacy debates around voter-roll access, the balance of state and federal authority over elections, and assurances that eligible voters are not disenfranchised. State officials say they will continue standard list maintenance practices and comply with both state and federal requirements while defending the integrity and privacy of their voter rolls.
