1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I write today as a concerned Hoosier citizen, deeply committed to the integrity and independence of our state’s electoral processes. Recent developments—including a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice requesting access to Indiana’s voter rolls—have raised serious concerns about federal intrusion into matters that the Constitution and our state laws unequivocally reserve to Indiana. While Secretary Morales has indicated your office is “reviewing the letter right now” in consultation with legal counsel and election officials, I urge that you root your decision strictly in Indiana state law and constitutional principles—not in deference to politically motivated federal pressure. The U.S. Constitution grants states primary authority to administer elections. As pointed out by advocacy groups, the Constitution is very clear – it is the state that administers and oversees elections, not the federal government. Historically, even during the previous Trump term, the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity was widely rejected by state officials—including former Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson—who determined that releasing voter information would violate state law protections. Moreover, recent coverage by Stateline highlights how DOJ requests for voter lists and election materials across multiple states—including highly sensitive data such as driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, and birthdates—raise serious privacy and civil rights concerns. While your July 2025 Memorandum of Agreement with DHS and USCIS to utilize the SAVE system was framed as a safeguard for election integrity, critics argue that SAVE was not designed for automated bulk verification and may unintentionally flag or disenfranchise naturalized or otherwise eligible voters. Indiana’s elections must uphold the highest standard of independence, transparency, and trust. My request is simple: Do not allow politically driven federal intervention—especially from an administration with a history of contesting election outcomes—to undermine our state’s authority. Please: • Refuse or narrowly tailor any data-sharing that exceeds what Indiana law explicitly requires or allows. • Ensure any response to DOJ is grounded solely in Indiana’s statutes and constitutional prerogatives. • Engage in robust public dialogue and transparency about the nature of federal requests and your decision-making process. Hoosiers deserve clarity and assurance that our elections are protected from partisan manipulation. A dedication to safeguarding Indiana’s democratic processes is one of your most important responsibilities as Secretary of State of Indiana. This moment demands that you must act with both courage and resolve.