Report: Voter rolls group shares personal data with ‘politically motivated’ organizations
Exclusive Report Reveals Controversial Practices of Voter Registration Group
The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a nonpartisan organization responsible for ensuring clean voter rolls in 25 states, has come under scrutiny for sharing voter data with politically left-leaning organizations, according to a new report.
The Washington Examiner reviewed a report by the Foundation for Government Accountability, which found that ERIC not only failed to maintain clean voter rolls but also assisted liberal organizations in using state funds to register likely Democratic voters.
Michael Greibrok, a senior research fellow at FGA and co-author of the report, expressed his concerns, stating, “Here you have the state being forced by ERIC to essentially do voter registration drives, and you could think of it almost as a political donation from taxpayers to the political parties and candidates.”
Established in 2012, ERIC is funded and governed by 24 states and the District of Columbia. The organization claims to help states maintain accurate voter rolls, detect illegal voting, and register eligible unregistered voters.
However, the report revealed that ERIC shares data collected by states with third-party organizations, such as the Center for Election Innovation and Research (CEIR), which used “Zuckerbucks” to disproportionately increase voter turnout in blue districts during the 2020 election.
David Becker, the founder of ERIC, also serves as the executive director of CEIR and has praised ERIC as “probably the single most effective voter registration effort in history.” The report’s co-author, Kristi Stahr, described the world of civic tech organizations as “a pretty incestuous group.”
Stahr explained that ERIC shares demographic data with third-party organizations, which she believes should not be involved in voter registration efforts. Greibrok emphasized that this data, including race and age, can be used to target specific groups of eligible, unregistered citizens for registration.
For instance, organizations like CEIR can receive voter data from ERIC and create mailing lists for voter registration solicitation. These lists are then sent back to the state, which is required to send out mailers using taxpayer dollars.
Stahr raised concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the sharing of voter data, stating, “So voters aren’t being told, ‘Hey, we’re basically selling your data for this membership fee to this third-party organization that’s going to use it to register voters.’ That’s a huge problem.”
Greibrok added that the political leanings of these organizations influence who gets contacted and who doesn’t, highlighting the potential bias in the voter registration process.
In the past two years, nine states have left ERIC, including Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa, and Texas.
Shane Hamlin, the Executive Director of ERIC, defended the organization, stating, “ERIC is a bipartisan organization that operates in a nonpartisan manner.” He emphasized their commitment to improving the accuracy of voter rolls and increasing access to voter registration for all eligible citizens.
Aside from the controversial sharing of voter data, the report also highlighted the issue of unclean voter rolls across the country. In 2021, 43.8 million Americans changed residences, but only 5.1 million were removed from voter rolls. Additionally, 4.8 million voters failed to return confirmation of registration, and 3.3 million registered voters passed away.
Stahr emphasized the importance of clean voter rolls not only for major elections but also for local races that can be decided by narrow margins.
The report recommends that more states abandon ERIC and focus on internal voter roll maintenance to ensure accurate and up-to-date rolls.
What evidence is there to suggest that organizations like ERIC are targeting specific groups of voters to manipulate election outcomes?
Ed by these organizations to target specific groups of voters and manipulate election outcomes.
The report also highlighted the potential misuse of state funds facilitated by ERIC. By requiring states to conduct voter registration drives and providing the data necessary for these efforts, ERIC essentially created a situation in which taxpayer money was being used to benefit political parties and candidates. This raises serious concerns about the fairness and integrity of elections, as public resources should not be utilized for partisan purposes.
Furthermore, the report shed light on the close ties between ERIC and politically left-leaning organizations. The sharing of data between ERIC and the Center for Election Innovation and Research (CEIR) raises questions about the impartiality of ERIC’s operations. With the executive director of CEIR also serving as the founder of ERIC, there is a clear conflict of interest that compromises the integrity of the organization.
The use of “Zuckerbucks” by CEIR to influence voter turnout in specific districts during the 2020 election further adds to the controversy surrounding ERIC. The disproportionate increase in voter turnout in blue districts raises concerns about the manipulation of election results. It is crucial that voter registration efforts are conducted in a fair and unbiased manner to ensure the integrity of the democratic process.
The report concludes that the practices of ERIC and its connections to politically left-leaning organizations are deeply problematic. The sharing of voter data, the potential misuse of state funds, and the manipulation of election outcomes undermine the trust and confidence of the American people in the electoral system.
Efforts must be made to address these concerns and ensure that voter registration efforts are conducted in a transparent and nonpartisan manner. The independence and integrity of organizations like ERIC are vital in protecting the democratic values of our nation. It is crucial that steps are taken to restore trust in the system and uphold the principles of fair and free elections. Only by doing so can we maintain the democratic foundation upon which our country was built.
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