Maine's Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, has publicly rejected a request from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for the state's voter registration records, labeling it an unprecedented overreach by the Trump administration.

The DOJ's request, dated July 24, 2025, sought not only Maine's entire statewide voter registration list but also details about election officials and information on voter roll maintenance efforts.

Bellows criticized the DOJ's demand as an abuse of power that undermines voter privacy, asserting that the Constitution grants states the authority to manage their own elections.

As a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Maine's 2026 gubernatorial race, Bellows has previously clashed with Trump over election-related issues, including declaring him ineligible for the 2024 primary.

Despite claims from the Maine Republican Party of widespread voter fraud, investigations by Bellows' office have found these allegations to be baseless, clarifying that duplicate registrations often arise from individuals moving.

The DOJ's request included sensitive information about noncitizens, felons, and deceased individuals allegedly participating in elections, raising further concerns about privacy and data security.

Bellows speculated that the DOJ's request could serve as a distraction from other significant issues or an attempt to provoke discussions about election integrity.

Both Bellows and her predecessor have consistently denied similar requests from previous administrations, reflecting a unified stance among Democratic officials in Maine.

Bellows plans to send a formal letter to the DOJ in the coming days, reiterating that the federal agency has no right to access sensitive voter information.

The ACLU of Maine has criticized the DOJ's actions as intimidation tactics that undermine trust in elections, emphasizing that Maine's elections are safe and accessible.

A spokesperson for the DOJ issued a 'no comment' in response to Bellows' accusations, while approximately a dozen states have received similar requests from the DOJ recently.

Bellows has a history of challenging Trump, including an attempt to remove his name from the primary ballot due to his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, a decision later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.