The United States government has launched a legal battle against a state election body, alleging non-compliance with federal election laws. On December 18, 2025, the United States of America filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin against the Wisconsin Elections Commission and its officials.
The lawsuit centers around allegations that the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) and its Administrator, Meagan Wolfe, along with other commissioners, failed to comply with federal mandates under Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The Attorney General of the United States accuses these officials of not retaining and preserving election-related records as required by law. According to Title III, election officials must keep all records related to voting applications and registrations for twenty-two months following any federal election. The Attorney General asserts that despite multiple requests, including a formal demand on December 2, 2025, WEC did not provide complete access to these records. This demand included an electronic copy of Wisconsin’s statewide voter registration list containing sensitive information like social security numbers or driver’s license numbers.
The plaintiff claims that on June 4 and June 17, 2025, letters were sent to WEC outlining their obligations under HAVA and requesting compliance documentation. Despite partial responses from Administrator Wolfe on July 2, 2025, full compliance was not achieved. A subsequent email from the Attorney General on December 2 emphasized the urgency of obtaining these records within seven days but was met with resistance due to state privacy laws cited by Wolfe in her December 11 response.
In light of these events, the U.S. government is seeking judicial intervention to enforce compliance with federal law. They request a court declaration stating that WEC’s refusal violates Title III of the Civil Rights Act and an order compelling WEC to provide a complete electronic copy of their voter registration list within five days post-judgment.
Representing the United States is Brittany E. Bennett from the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. The case is presided over by Judge Harmeet K. Dhillon under Case No. 3:25-cv-1036.
Source: 325cv01036_United_States_of_America_v_Wisconsin_Elections_Commission_Complaint_Western_District_Wisconsin.pdf
