Why It Matters
A formal complaint against Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray could test the boundaries of state authority over voter information and federal election oversight. The case raises questions about how states balance election integrity efforts with voter privacy protections.
What Happened
Cheyenne attorney George Powers filed a complaint Monday with Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz alleging Gray violated state law by sharing sensitive voter data with the federal government. The complaint accuses Gray of knowingly violating his duty to maintain personally identifiable information from Wyoming’s voter rolls.
Powers requested the attorney general appoint an independent special prosecutor to handle the case, citing a conflict of interest. Gray previously stated his actions were taken in consultation with the attorney general’s office.
Gray defended his decision in a Tuesday statement, calling the complaint an attack coordinated with left-leaning media outlets. He maintained his office’s actions advance election integrity and comply with the law.
By The Numbers
- Gray provided driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers for every registered Wyoming voter to the Department of Justice in August
- Wyoming was the first state to comply with the Trump administration’s nationwide voter roll request
- The Justice Department sent its initial request in June 2025
- Gray exported a publicly available voter list in July, but the DOJ requested additional sensitive information in an August 14 letter
- Gray provided the expanded data set by August 28
Zoom Out
The Trump administration launched a nationwide effort to obtain state voter rolls as part of election security initiatives. Most states either provided publicly available voter registration data without sensitive information or declined the request entirely.
The Constitution assigns election administration to states rather than the federal government. Critics argue federal requests for sensitive voter data exceed proper federal authority over elections.
Powers is a retired civil trial attorney who previously won a public records lawsuit against the Wyoming Department of Education in 2024. As of midday Tuesday, he had not received a response from the attorney general’s office.
What’s Next
The attorney general’s office will decide whether to appoint a special prosecutor or handle the complaint through existing channels. Gray stated he will continue working with the Trump administration on election integrity matters.
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