The South Carolina State Election Commission has finalized a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to share voter data for a citizenship verification review. This agreement, announced earlier this week, resolves a year-long standoff involving leadership changes and a high-profile privacy lawsuit.
Attorney General Alan Wilson expressed strong support for the partnership, framing it as a critical step in maintaining the nation’s most secure elections. Wilson emphasized that verifying citizenship is a shared priority for his office and the current presidential administration. He noted that the agreement reinforces the standard that only American citizens should participate in domestic elections, while providing South Carolinians assurance that the data transfer process will remain secure and untampered with.
The DOJ originally requested this data in July 2025. Compliance was delayed by a lawsuit from a private citizen who argued the release of information like Social Security and driver’s license numbers violated constitutional privacy rights. Following an October court ruling that dismissed those concerns, the Commission moved forward with the federal agency.
While the state is now sharing information to ensure election integrity, officials maintain that safeguarding sensitive voter details remains a top priority.
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