LINCOLN - Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen has requested a district court to pause a lawsuit concerning the release of Nebraska's voter data to the U.S. Department of Justice, citing the ongoing federal government shutdown. Filed by Common Cause Nebraska and Omaha voter Dawn Essink, the lawsuit challenges the federal request for comprehensive voter information, including names, birthdates, addresses, and partial Social Security and driver's license numbers. The plaintiffs argue that such a disclosure violates state law, which prohibits sharing certain voter data with third parties.

The Department of Justice's request, made on September 8, 2025, aimed to obtain Nebraska's full voter registration file by September 22. In response, Evnen's office has not released any data and is seeking to delay the lawsuit proceedings until the federal shutdown concludes. The motion emphasizes that without federal funding, Justice Department attorneys cannot work, even on a voluntary basis, and that pausing the case would allow for continued discussions on how voter privacy would be protected.

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