OLYMPIA, Wash – Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs says the Department of Justice is trying to intimidate states and interfere with local elections.
Secretary Hobbs responded Thursday to a letter sent earlier this month by Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.
In the letter sent to Washington and several other states, Dhillon warned election officers that they could be criminally liable if they knowingly allow noncitizens to vote.
Dhillon gave elections officials five days to respond with how states are complying with federal law.
The DOJ is already suing Washington for not handing over voter information.
In his response Thursday, Secretary Hobbs said, “The letter appears to be another instance in a troubling pattern of efforts to intimidate election officials and interfere with states’ constitutionally protected election administration.”
“It is the policy of the state of Washington to encourage every eligible person to register to vote and to participate fully in all elections, and to protect the integrity of the electoral process by providing equal access to the process while guarding against discrimination and fraud,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs says Dhillon’s letter doesn’t identify any specific concerns about Washington’s compliance with federal law.
“If the Department has recommendations regarding our practices, we ask that it identify the factual basis and applicable legal authority so that we may review it promptly,” Hobbs said.
You can read Hobbs’ full response at this link.
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