STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
The U.S. Department of Justice is taking Kentucky to court over access to voter information.
Federal officials announced Thursday, Feb. 26, that they have filed a lawsuit against the Kentucky and four other states, saying those states failed to provide voter data requested by the Justice Department and have therefore violated the Civil Rights Act of 1960.
The lawsuit names Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams and the State Board of Elections.
“Kentucky’s elections are a national success story, and the Department of Justice has repeatedly acknowledged in court our successful work to clean up the dirty voter rolls I inherited,” Adams said in a statement. “Kentucky law protects voters’ personal information, and I will not voluntarily commit a data breach by providing Kentuckians’ personal data to the federal bureaucracy unless a court order tells me to.”
Barren County had 31,619 registered voters as of January 2026, of which 17,035 are Republicans, according to the State Board of Elections.
Key Facts
• U.S. Department of Justice files lawsuit against Kentucky and four other states
• Federal officials say states failed to turn over requested voter information
• Lawsuit names Secretary of State Michael Adams and the State Board of Elections
• Adams says Kentucky law protects voters’ personal data and defends state’s election record
• Lawsuit announced Thursday, Feb. 26
