Texas exits ERIC voter list program.

Texas ⁢Resigns ⁣from ERIC, Largest State to Leave

The Texas secretary of state has made the ‍decision‌ to ‌withdraw from the ‌Electronic Registration Registration ⁤Information​ Center (ERIC), a tool used to maintain⁤ clean voter rolls across states.

According to Secretary of State spokeswoman Alicia Pierce, Texas has submitted a‌ letter to ⁤ERIC, officially notifying them of their withdrawal from the ⁣program​ (pdf).

Texas, being the largest ​and most populous state,​ is making a‌ significant ‌move by leaving this non-profit organization that was established⁤ in ‍2012⁢ and consists ‍of member states sharing voter information.

Shane Hamlin, ⁤the executive director ⁣of ERIC,​ stated in a response to Politico‍ that the organization will adhere to its Bylaws and Membership Agreement ‍in handling any ⁣member’s ⁢request to resign.

This decision comes after Republican leaders supported⁣ Senate Bill 1070, which ‌aimed to⁤ discontinue the⁣ use of the voter registration‍ program.

Explaining ‌the rationale behind the withdrawal, Ms. Pierce wrote, “As fewer states participated in ERIC, the‍ costs⁢ were set to increase. Texas would be paying more for less data.‌ Additionally, the passage of SB 1070 ⁤set up that the state would not be able to stay ⁣in ERIC long-term.”

In⁢ March, Secretary ​of State Jane Nelson announced⁢ changes to the state’s elections division, ⁣signaling their intention to leave the coalition.

The press release dated March 10 stated, “Keith Ingram,​ the current Director of ⁢the Elections Divisions, will serve⁤ in a‍ newly-created position to develop and manage an interstate voter registration crosscheck program ​to comply with Section 18.062 of the ⁢Texas Election Code.”

Recently, Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill ⁤into law that called for the withdrawal from ⁣ERIC.

The legislation, authored by state ⁢Sen.⁣ Bryan Hughes (R), directs ⁣the secretary of state to either⁢ create their own‍ multistate cross-check program or contract with a private sector data system.

If a private sector ⁢system is‌ utilized, the law mandates​ background‌ checks ⁤for‍ all potential ‍vendor employees and ensures the protection of data.