The Biden administration leveraged the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS to promote voter registration and turnout during the 2022 midterm elections, according to newly uncovered internal documents. The initiative, rooted in a 2021 executive order titled “Promoting Access to Voting,” directed federal tax agencies to engage in activities traditionally outside their statutory mission—raising concerns about the politicization of government resources.
The Treasury’s Stakeholder Partnerships, Education, and Communication (SPEC) division directed its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs to inform taxpayers—particularly low-income individuals and non-English speakers—about registering to vote and accessing voter information. Employees were instructed to promote voter engagement at tax assistance sites and were encouraged to direct individuals to federal voting resources. Internal emails revealed directives requiring agencies to remind employees of election dates, share links to vote.gov, and inform them of administrative leave available for voting or poll worker service.
This effort targeted populations more likely to support Democrat candidates and aligned with broader executive branch efforts to increase turnout among traditionally left-leaning constituencies. Critics argue the program pushed the Treasury beyond its legal bounds and into the electoral arena. One senior federal official expressed concern, stating the federal government should not function as “a massive voter mobilization campaign.”
The program has raised constitutional alarms over the blurring of federal and state election responsibilities. Election law places authority over election administration in the hands of state governments. By deploying federal departments in roles that resemble partisan voter outreach, opponents argue the administration may have compromised electoral neutrality.
While the White House maintained that the program served a civic engagement role consistent with its executive directive, the strategic focus on specific demographic groups invites scrutiny. The use of federal tax infrastructure to influence voter behavior—especially without congressional authorization—has prompted calls for legislative oversight and possible legal constraints.
