Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has declined a request from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking access to the state’s voter registration database, including sensitive personal information.

In a letter sent Tuesday , Hobbs cited “legal and privacy concerns” under state law, stating that the DOJ’s request lacked sufficient legal justification and risked violating voter confidentiality.

“I take very seriously the responsibility to safeguard highly personal voter information protected from disclosure under both Washington and federal law,” Hobbs wrote.

The DOJ had requested access to information such as voter ID numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers. The department claimed the request was to ensure compliance with the National Voter Registration

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